m 


mm'' 


mtlieCitpoflmgork 

THE  LIBRARIES 


Bequest  of 

Frederic  Bancroft 

1860-1945 


LETTERS 


ELIAS     HICKS. 


INCLUDING  ALSO 


OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  SLAVERY  OF  THE  AFRICANS 


AND  THEIR  DESCENDANTS, 


THE  USE  OF  THE  PRODUCE  OF  THEIR  LABOR 


PHILADELPHIA: 
PUBLISHED  BY  T.  ELLWOOD  CHAPMAN, 

No.   5   SOUTH   FIFTH   STREET. 
18CX. 


GUr\C  A. 


3^<^s'^e 


Entered,  according  to  the  Act, of  Congress,  in  the  year  1834,  by  Isaac  T. 
HoppEH,  in  the  Clerk's  office  of  s«*8  Ihetrici  Court  of  the  Soutliern  Distnct  of 
New  York. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


In  presenting  to  the  public  this  volume  from  the  pen  of  Elias 
Hicks,  it  is  proper  to  observe,  that  it  might  have  been  much  enlarged 
by  the  addition  of  many  other  letters ;  but,  we  believe,  that  those 
contained  in  the  present  collection,  are  sufficient  to  give  a  pretty  full 
exposition  of  the  views  of  the  writer  on  the  various  subjects  of  which 
they  treat,  and  which  comprehend  the  most  important  doctrines  of 
the  Christian  religion  :  and  though  sentiments  may,  perhaps,  be  found 
in  it,  that  may  appear  new  to  some,  yet,  we  think,  upon  an  attentive 
examination,  they  will  be  found  in  accordance  with  the  Scriptures  of 
truth  and  the  doctrines  of  our  most  approved  and  enlightened  primi- 
tive Friends  ;  and  we  think,  too,  that  the  long  life  of  unsullied  in- 
tegrity and  fervent  piety  of  the  writer,  claims  for  them  a  close  and 
impartial  examination.  Most  of  these  letters  were  written  to  his  in- 
timate friends,  without  any  expectation,  so  far  as  appears,  that  they 
would  ever  be  made  public  ;  the  candid  reader  will,  therefore,  readily 
admit  in  this  fact,  a  sufficient  apology,  if  the  writer  has  not  always  been 
as  successful  in  elucidating  some  points,  as  might  have  been  desired. 
Another  circumstance  should  be  noticed.  Most  of  the  letters  con- 
tained in  this  volume,  were  answers  to  letters  received,  which  not 
being  in  our  possession,  we  have  not  been  able  to  state  the  questions 
that  elicited  his  replies ;  and  hence  some  things  in  the  latter  may 
appear  to  require  explanations  which,  probably,  they  would  not  have 
been  thought  to  want,  had  those  questions  been  published  at  the  same 
time.  To  this  we  add,  that  if  the  reader  should  discover  some  things 
which  may  appear  ambiguous,  or  objectionable,  we  think  he  will  find 
the  same  subjects  more  fully  and  satisfactorily  explained  in  other 
parts  of  the  work. 


4  ADVERTISEMENT. 

In  giving  publicity  to  the  opinions  and  doctrinal  views  of  Ellas 
Hicks,  as  exhibited  in  this  work,  we  believe  we  shall  be  doing  a 
public  service,  and  at  the  same  time  gratify  many  of  his  friends. 

The  contents  of  this  volume  have  been  carefully  transcribed  from 
letters,  or  papers,  in  the  hand-writing  of  the  author,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  a  very  few,  which  have  been  taken  from  copies,  either  written 
or  printed. 

The  author  appears  fully  to  have  believed,  that  the  doctrines  pro- 
mulgated in  them,  were  opened  to  his  understanding  by  that  Divine 
life  which  is  the  light  of  men;  but,  the  reader  must  be  left  to  form 
his  conclusions  from  the  light  and  evidence  in  his  own  mind. 

New  York,  2d  mo.  1834. 


OBSERVATIONS 


SLAVERY    OF    THE    AFRICANS 


AND  THEIR  DESCENDANTS, 


AND  ON  THE  USE  OF  THE  PRODUCE  OF  THEIR  LABOUR. 


[This  Essay  was  first  published  in  the  year  18U,  after  having  been  approved  by 
the  Meeting  for  Sufferings.] 


PREFACE 


Whereas,  I  some  time  past  published  certain  observations  on  the  Slavery 
of  the  Africans  and  their  descendants,  and  on  the  consumption  of  the  produce  of 
their  labour,  comprehended  principally  in  nineteen  dueries  and  Answers,  the 
design  of  which  was  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  my  friends  and  fellow-citizens, 
and  others  concerned,  as  far  as  might  be,  by  fair  reasoning,  a  full  sense  of  the 
abhorrent  cruelty  and  unrighteousness  of  holding  our  fellow  creatures  in 
bondage,  and  wresting  from  them,  by  violence,  the  produce  of  their  labour  ; 
which  being  well  received  by  many,  and  affording  reason  to  hope  they  were 
profitable  to  some,  I  was  induced  to  believe  a  second  edition  might  be 
useful. 

I  have,  therefore,  revised  the  original,  and  endeavoured  to  compress  it  as 
much  as  the  subjects  would  admit ;  and  have  added  some  quotations  from  an 
anonymous  pamphlet,  published  some  time  since  in  England,  which  are  so 
correspondent  with  the  before  mentioned  observations,  as  to  have  a  tendency, 
in  my  opinion,  to  elucidate  and  enforce  them. 

I  shall  only  add,  as  a  farther  apology  for  the  present  edition,  that  the  evil 
still  continues  :  that  there  are  still  slave  holders,  and  consumers  of  the  nro- 
duce  of  the  labour  of  slaves,  wrested  from  them  by  violence. 

And  as  the  slave  holder  can  have  no  moral  right  whatever  to  the  man  he 
styles  his  slave,  nor  to  the  produce  of  his  labour,  he  cannot  possibly  convey 
any  to  a  second  person  by  any  transfer  he  can  make:  for,  having  nothing  but 
a  criminal  possession  himself,  he  can  convey  nothing  to  a  second  person  but 
the  same  possession  :  and  should  this  possession  be  continued  throagh  a  line 
of  transfer  to  the  twentieth  person,  still  it  would  be  nothing  more  than  the  same 
criminal  possession  that  was  vested  in  the  first  possessor,  and  would  convev 
no  moral  right  whatever.  And  should  any  other  person  come  forward,  and, 
by  the  same  mode  of  violence  and  power  that  was  exercised  by  the  first  pos- 
sessor, in  reducing  the  man  he  styles  his  slave  to  the  abject  state  of  slavery, 
and  by  which  he  violently  took  from  him  the  produce  of  his  labour,  forcibly 
take  from  such  twentieth  or  more  remote  possessors,  the  slave  and  the  pro- 
duce of  his  labour,  the  right  of  such  person,  in  point  of  equity,  to  such  slave 
and  the  produce  of  his  labour  would  be  just  equal  to  the  right  of  such  remote 


8  PREFACE. 

possessor ;  as  neither  of  them  could  have  had  any  more  than  a  criminal 
possession  :  and  whether  that  possession  is  obtained  by  violence  or  by  transfer, 
(if  the  person  who  receives  it  by  transfer  is  informed  of  the  criminal  circum- 
stance,) it  can  make  no  possible  difference,  except  that  one  is  protected  by  the 
indulgence  of  a  partial  law  of  the  country  we  live  in,  and  the  other  is  not. 
By  which  undeniable  proposition,  it  appears,  that  when  any  man  becomes 
possessed  of  a  slave,  or  the  produce  of  his  labour,  wrested  from  him  without 
his  consent,  whether  it  be  by  transfer  or  otherwise,  any  other  person  who  has 
power  so  to  do,  may,  by  violence,  take  from  such  possessor,  such  slave  and 
tae  produce  of  his  labour:  and  when  he  has  in  that  way  obtained  possession 
mereof,  he  has  as  good  a  right  to  such  slave  and  to  use  the  produce  of  his 
^abour  as  the  former ;  and  the  former  can  have  no  just  cause  to  complain  of 
such  usage,  as  he  is  only  paid  in  his  own  coin.  For,  although  the  first  pos- 
sessor committed  the  act  of  violence,  when  he  took  from  the  man  he  styles  his 
slave  his  liberty,  and  compelled  him  to  work,  and  by  the  same  cruel  force, 
took  from  him  the  produce  of  his  labour  ;  yet,  every  purchaser  of  such  slave 
and  the  produce  of  his  labour,  if  he  is  apprized  of  the  criminal  circumstance 
attending  it,  is  as  guilty  as  the  first  perpetrator  :  and  should  such  slave  and 
the  produce  of  his  labour  pass  through  the  hands  of  twenty  persons,  all 
Knowing  at  the  time  of  transfer  the  criminal  circumstances  attending,  ea^h 
would  be  guilty  of  the  entire  crime  of  the  first  perpetrator.  This  bein? 
assented  to,  and  I  conceive  it  is  incontrovertible,  I  have  a  hope  that  this 
edition  may  produce  a  good  effect,  and  tend  to  raise  up  many  more  faithful 
advocates  in  the  cause  of  this  deeply  oppressed  people,  who  may  be  willing 
»o  suffer  every  necessary  privation,  rather  than  be  guilty  of  the  least  thing 
.,nat  may,  in  any  degree,  possibly  strengthen  the  hands  of  their  oppressors.  I 
therefore  recommend  this  little  treatise  to  the  candid  and  impartial  considera- 
iioaof  the  reader,  and  subscribe  myself  his  sincere  friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


OBSERVATIONS,  &c. 


The  slavery  of  the  Africans  and  their  descendants,  has 
become  so  established  by  long  continuance,  and  the  force  of 
an  unrighteous  custom,  that  many  persons  consider  the  prac- 
tice not  only  admissible,  but  consistent  with  justice  and  social 
order. 

But  I  am  led  to  doubt  the  possibility  of  any  rational,  moral 
person  being  thus  circumstanced,  unless  he  is  first  greatly 
blinded  by  selfishness  and  partiality  ;  as  I  consider  it  a  matter 
of  fact,  obviously  clear  to  every  rational,  contemplative  mind, 
that  neither  custom  nor  education,  nor  any  law  of  men  or 
nations,  can  alter  the  nature  of  justice  and  equity;  which 
will  and  must,  essentially  and  eternally,  rest  upon  their  own 
proper  base,  as  laid  down  by  the  great  Christian  Lawgiver, 
viz.  "Therefore,  all  things,  whatsoever  ye  would  that  men 
should  do  to  you,  do  ye  even  so  to  them :  for  tliis  is  the  law 
and  the  prophets."  Hence,  I  conceive,  it  is  a  most  necessary 
and  important  christian  duty,  for  all  those  who  are  either 
directly  or  indirectly  concerned  in  the  slavery  of  their  fellow 
creatures,  seriously  and  impartially  to  consider  the  manner 
and  way  in  which  the  slavery  of  the  Africans  was  first  intro- 
duced ;  and  by  what  means  it  has  been  so  'long  continued ; 
not  doubting,  but  that  every  upright,  impartial  mind,  by  a  full 
examination  into  the  subject,  will  readily  discover,  that  it  was 
first  introduced  by  fraud  and  force,  and  continued  by  an  unjust 
and  tyrannical  power :  and  will,  therefore,  be  induced  to  restore 
to  them  their  just  and  native  rights,  as  free  men,  which  no 
law  nor  power  of  men  or  nations  ought  to  deprive  them  of 
without  their  consent. 

It  is  generally  acknowledged,  by  the    people  of  every 

2 


10  OBSERVATIOXS 

enlightened  country,  and  particularly  by  those  who  believe 
in  revelation,  as  testified  of  in  the  Scriptures  of  Truth,  that 
man  is  a  moral  agent,  (that  is,  free  to  act,  with  the  restriction 
of  accountability  to  his  Creator,)  agreeably  to  the  declaration 
of  the  prophet  Ezekiel  ;  through  whom,  Jehovah,  in  his 
benignity  and  justice,  claims  the  right  of  sovereignty  over 
the  children  of  men  :  "  All  souls  are  mine  ;  as  the  soul  of  the 
father,  so  also  the  soul  of  the  son  is  mine  :  the  soul  that  sinneth, 
it  shall  die :  the  son  shall  not  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  father, 
neither  shall  the  father  bear  the  iniquity  of  the  son  !"  This 
Scripture  testimony,  perfectly  consonant  with  reason  and  jus- 
tice, not  only  proves,  that  every  man  is  to  bear  his  own  ini- 
•  quity,  but  that  he  also  stands  fully  indemnified  thereby,  from 
all  the  iniquity  of  his  predecessors ;  and  likewise  fully  estab- 
lishes man's  free  agency :  and,  of  course,  proves,  that  every 
moral  agent  born  into  the  world,  (whatever  the  conduct  and 
situation  of  his  parents  may  have  been)  is  born  free  :  upon 
which  undeniable  truth,  I  shall  found  the  following  Queries 
and  Answers  : 

Query  1.  Were  not  the  people  of  Africa,  at  the  time  wh-en 
the  Europeans  first  visited  their  coasts,  a  free  people,  possessed 
of  the  same  natural  and  unalienable  rights,  as  the  people  of 
any  other  nation  ? 

Answer.  They  certainly  were :  for,  when  the  Europeans, 
whether  by  fraud  or  force,  or  by  purchase  from  those  who  had 
stolen  or  taken  them  prisoners  in  war,  became  possessed  of  a 
number  of  the  people  of  Africa,  and  by  violence  reduced  them 
to  the  wretched  and  degraded  state  of  Slaves ;  at  the  same 
time  it  would  have  been  as  right  and  as  consistent  with  equity 
and  moral  justice,  for  the  Africans  to  have  done  the  same  by 
them,  had  it  been  in  their  power :  by  which  undeniable  propo- 
sition, it  is  evident,  that  the  slavery  of  .the  Africans  is  the  pro- 
duct of  mere  power,  Avithout  any  possible  plea  of  right :  and 
that  the  same  power  of  force,  fraud,  and  tyrannical  cruelty,  that 
was  exercised  in  reducing  the  people  of  Africa  at  first,  to  the 
miserable  and  wretched  state  of  slaves,  has,  in  like  manner,  in 
a  continual  state  of  war,  been  exercised  on  all  the  descendants 


ON    SLAVERY.  11 

of  those  unhappy  people  that  are  held  as  slaves,  from  genera- 
tion to  generation,  down  to  the  present  day:  it  being  an 
undeniable  truth,  that  no  rational  creature  can  be  any  longer 
a  slave,  than  while  the  force  of  war  is  operating  upon  him : 
and  as  before  proved  from  Scripture,  and  moral  justice,  that 
every  child  of  an  African,  born  in  America,  or  elsewhere,  is 
born  free :  therefore,  he  suffers  the  same  cruel  force  of  fraud 
and  power  while  continued  under  the  galling  yoke  of  slavery, 
as  was  exercised  on  his  predecessors. 

"  The  lust  of  power,  and  the  pride  of  conquest,  have  doubt- 
less produced  instances  far  too  numerous  of  man  enslaved  by 
man.  But  we,  in  an  enlightened  age,  have  greatly  surpassed, 
in  brutality  and  injustice,  the  most  ignorant  and  barbarous 
ages ;  and  while  we  are  pretending  to  the  finest  feelings  of 
humanity,  are  exercising  unprecedented  cruelty.  We  have 
planted  slavery  in  the  rank  soil  of  sordid  avarice :  and  the 
product  has  been  misery  in  the  extreme.  We  have  ascer- 
tained, by  a  course  of  experiments  in  cruelty,  the  least  portion 
of  nourishment  requisite  to  enable  man  to  linger  a  few  years 
in  misery ;  the  greatest  quantity  of  labour,  which,  in  such  a 
situation,  the  extreme  of  punishment  can  extort ;  and  the 
utmost  degree  of  pain,  labour  and  hunger  united,  that  the 
human  frame  can  endure.  In  vain  have  such  scenes  been 
developed.  The  wealth  derived  from  the  horrid  traffic,  has 
created  an  influence  that  secures  its  continuance ;  unless  the 
people  at  large  shall  refuse  to  receive  the  produce  of  robbery 
and  murder." 

Q.  2.  Under  what  name  or  descriptive  mode  of  property 
are  the  slaves  to  be  considered,  in  relation  to  the  man  who 
holds  them  as  such  ? 

A.  The  slaves  being  taken  by  violence,  either  directly  or 
indirectly,  contrary  to  their  o\\ai  wills,  and  in  direct  opposition 
to  all  the  power  of  self-defence,  which  they  are  capable  of 
exerting,  whether  they  are  taken  prisoners  of  war  or  stolen, 
or  decoyed  on  shipboard  by  the  slave  merchant,  and  then  for- 
cibly confined  and  carried  off ;  it  must  be  aclmowledged,  they 
are  taken  in  a  state  of  war,  and  considered  by  the  captor  as 


12  OBSERVATIONS 

a  prize  :  therefore,  the  only  true  title  and  description  of  pro- 
perty they  can  possibly  bear,  is  prize  goods. 

Q.  3.  Is  not  the  produce  of  the  slave's  labour  likewise  prize 
goods  ? 

A.  It  certainly  is ;  for  the  man,  who,  by  mere  power  and 
violence,  without  any  just  plea  of  right,  not  only  holds  them 
as  slaves,  but  takes  from  them,  in  the  same  cruel  and  arbi- 
trary manner,  the  proceeds  of  their  labour,  without  their  con- 
sent, thereby  places  himself  in  a  state  of  continual  and  actual 
waT  with  his  slaves.  And,  moreover,  as  the  stealing  or  taldng 
a  man  by  violence,  and  depriving  him  of  his  liberty,  and 
reducing  him  to  the  wretched  and  helpless  state  of  a  slave,  is 
the  highest  grade  of  felony,  and  is  done  purposely  to  profit  by 
the  slave's  labour  ;  therefore,  the  produce  of  the  slave's  labour 
is  the  highest  grade  of  prize  goods,  next  to  his  person. 

Q.  4.  Does  the  highway  robber,  that  meets  his  fellow-citizen 
on  the  highway,  and  robs  him  of  all  the  property  he  has  in 
his  present  possession,  and  then  leaves  him  at  liberty,  without 
injuring  his  person,  commit  as  high  an  act  of  felony,  as  he 
that  steals  or  buys,  or  takes  a  man  by  violence,  and  reduces 
him  to  the  wretched  and  degraded  state  of  a  slave  for  life  ? 

A.  No  !  in  no  wise.  Which  answer  is  founded  on  the  self- 
evident  proposition,  that  it  is  more  criminal  to  rob  a  man  of  his 
liberty  and  property,  than  only  to  rob  him  of  his  property. 

Q.  5.  Does  it  lessen  the  criminality  and  wickedness  of 
reducing  our  fellow  creatures  to  the  abject  state  of  slavery,  and 
continuing  them  therein,  because  the  practice  is  tolerated  by 
the  laws  of  the  country  we  live  in  ? 

A.  No !  by  no  means.  Because,  every  rational  creature 
Imows,  or  ought  to  Imow,  that.no  laws  of  men  or  nations, 
can  alter  the  nature  of  immutable  justice.  The  criminality 
remains  as  great  in  all  cases  of  slavery,  when  inflicted  with- 
out any  criminality  of  the  individual  made  a  slave,  under  the 
sanction  of  law,  as  when  it  is  not ;  and  in  some  cases,  greater : 
as  in  the  instance  of  those  governments,  where  they  are  not 
only  guilty  of  the  cruelty  and  oppression  of  reducing,  by  mere 
power,  without  any  possible  plea  of  right,  their  fellow  crea- 


ON    SLAVERY.  13 

tures  who  have  equally  a  right  with  themselves  to  liberty,  and 
the  purchase  of  redemption  by  a  Saviour's  blood,  to  the  abject 
and  wretched  state  of  slaves,  but  are  adding  sin  to  sin,  by 
making  and  continuing  cruel  laws  to  hold  them  still  longer 
under  the  galling  yoke. 

Q.  6.  Would  it  be  right  and  consistent  with  justice  and 
equity,  for  the  legislatures  of  the  several  states,  and  others 
concerned,  to  make  laws  entirely  to  abolish  slavery  in  their 
respective  states? 

A.  It  would,  doubtless,  be  entirely  right,  and  perfectly  con- 
sistent with  equity  and  justice  to  make  such  laws  ;  and  noth- 
ing, I  apprehend,  can  exculpate  them  from  the  charge  of  blood- 
guiltiness  short  of  so  doing :  as,  no  doubt,  many  of  the  poor 
victims  of  slavery  suffer  daily  to  the  sl>edding  of  their  blood, 
under  the  hands  of  some  of  the  cruel  men  who  pretend  to  be 
their  masters,  because  they  do  not  at  all  times  immediately 
submit  to  their  cruel  and  arbitrary  wills. 

Q.  7.  Would  it  not  give  just  occasion  for  those  who  still 
have  slaves  in  their  possession,  and  especially  to  such  as  have 
lately  purchased  them,  at  a  dear  rate,  to  complain  of  wrong  in 
thus  taking  from  them,  v/ithout  their  consent,  v/hat  they  esteem 
as  their  real  property  ? 

A.  The  making  and  enforcing  such  laws  cannot  possibly 
give  just  occasion  for  any  such  complaint ;  as  it  is  impossible 
for  any  man  to  gain  any  just  property  in  a  rational  being,  as  a 
slave,  without  his  consent ;  for,  neither  the  slave  dealer  nor 
the  planter  have  any  moral  right  to  the  person  of  him  they 
style  their  slave,  to  his  labour,  or  to  the  produce  of  it ;  so,  they 
can  convey  no  right  in  such  person,  nor  in  the  produce  of  his 
labour  to  another ;  and  whatever  number  of  hands  they  may 
pass  through,  (if  the  criminal  circumstances  appertaining 
thereto  be  known  to  them  at  the  time  of  the  transfer,)  they  can 
only  have  a  criminal  possession  ;  and  .the  money  paid  either 
for  the  slave  or  for  the  produce  of  his  labour,  is  paid  to  obtain 
that  criminal  possession,  and  can  confer  no  moral  right  what- 
ever ;  and  if  the  death  of  the  person  called  a  slave,  be  occa- 
sioned by  the  criminal  possession,  the  criminal  possessor  is 


14  0BS>ERVATI0N3 

guilty  of  murder  ;  and  we  who  liave  knowingly  done  any  a<;t 
which  might  occasion  his  being  in  that  situation,  are  accbssa- 
hes  to  the  murder,  before  the  fact ;  as  by  receiving  the  produce 
of  his  labour,  we  are  accessaries  to  the  robbery  after  the  fact. 
Therefore,  I  conceive,  it  must  appear  clear  and  agreeable  to 
truth  and  justice,  that  a  man  who  should  dare  to  be  so  hardy 
as  to  buy  a  fellow  creature,  whose  liberty  is  withheld  from  him 
by  violence  and  injustice,  ought  not  only  to  be  obliged  to  set 
him  free,  and  to  forfeit  the  purchase  money,  but  likewise  to 
make  full  satisfaction  to  the  person  he  had  injured,  by  such 
purchase. 

Q.  8.  As  the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  has 
passed  a  law,  declaring  that  every  child,  born  in  this  state  of 
a  woman  held  as  a  slave,  shall  be  free,  the  males  at  twenty- 
eight  years  of  age,  and  the  females  at  twenty-five  ;  can  such 
a  law  be  considered  as  doing  full  justice  to  that  injured  people? 

A.  Although  such  might  have  been  the  unjust  bias,  that  too 
generally  prevailed  on  the  minds  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
State,  at  the  time  of  making  the  law  alluded  to  in  the  query, 
that  it  was  the  best  step  the  Legislature  could  then  take  ; 
nevertheless,  in  my  opinion,  it  fell  very  far  short  of  doing 
them  that  full  justice  to  which  they  are  entitled ;  for,  as  all 
children  born  of  white  women  in  this  state,  are  free  at  the  age 
of  twenty-one  and  eighteen  years,  according  to  their  sex,  and  as 
the  Africans  and  their  descendants  are  not  here  in  their  own 
wills,  nor  agreeable  to  their  own  choice,  but  wholly  in  conse- 
quence of  the  will  and  pleasure  of  the  white  citizens  of  this 
State  ;  therefore,  it  is  impossible,  m  point  of  justice,  that  any 
disadvantage  or  penalty  should  attach  to  them,  as  a  conse- 
quence of  their  being  here  :  but  as  free  born  men  and  women, 
they  have  a  right  to  demand  their  freedom  at  the  same  age  as 
other  citizens  ;  and  to  deny  them  of  it,  is  depriving  them  of 
their  just  right. 

Q.  9.  What  measures  can  be  adopted  by  the  Legislature 
and  citizens  of  New  York,  in  order  to  exculpate  themselves 
from  the  giLlt  of  that  atrocious  crime  of  holding  the  Africans 
and  their  descendants  so  long  in  slavery  ? 


ox    SLAVERY.  15 

A.  The  least  that  can  be  done,  in  order  to  effect  the  salu- 
tary end  contemplated  by  the  query,  would  be  to  declare  free- 
dom to  every  slave  in  the  state,  and  to  make  provision  by  law 
for  the  education  of  all  minors  that  are  in  a  state  of  slavery  ; 
compelling  their  masters,  or  those  who  have  the  charge  of 
them,  to  instruct  them  so  as  to  keep  their  own  accounts,  and 
that  they  be  set  at  liberty,  the  males  at  twenty-one  and  females 
at  eighteen  years  of  age  :  and  further,  that  some  lawful  and 
reasonable  step  be  taken,  to  compensate  such  slaves  as  have 
been  held  in  bondage  beyond  "that  age,  for  such  surplus 
service.  ■ 

Q.  10.  By  what  class  of  the  people  is  the  slavery  of  the 
Africans  and  their  descendants  supported  and  encouraged  ? 

A.  Principally  by  the  purchasers  and  consumers  of  the 
produce  of  the  slaves'  labour ;  as  the  profits  arising  from  the 
produce  of  their  labour,  is  the  only  stimulus  or  inducement  for 
making  slaves. 

"  The  laws  of  our  country  may  indeed  prohibit  us  the 
sweets  of  the  sugar  cane,"  and  other  articles  of  the  West- 
Indies  and  southern  states,  that  are  the  produce  of  the  slave's 
labour,  "  unless  we  will  receive  it  through  the  medium  of 
slavery  ;  they  may  hold  it  to  our  lips,  steeped  in  the  blood  of 
our  fellow  creatures,  but  they  cannot  compel  us  to  accept  the 
loathsome  potion.  With  us  it  rests,  either  to  receive  it  and 
be  partners  in  th-e  crime,  or  to  exonerate  ourselves  from 
guilt,  by  spurning  from  us  the  temptation.  For  let  us  not 
think,  that  the  crime  rests  alone  with  those  who  conduct  the 
traffic,  or  the  Legislature  by  which  it  is  protected.  If  we 
purchase  the  commodity,  we  participate  in  the  crime.  The 
slave  dealer,  the  slave  holder,  and  the  slave  driver,  are  virtu- 
ally the  agents  of  the  consumer,  and  may  be  considered  as 
employed  and  hired  by  him,  to  procure  the  commodity.  For, 
by  holding  out  the  temptation,  he  is  the  original  cause,  the  first 
mover  in  the  horrid  process  ;  and  every  distinction  is  done 
away  by  the  moral  maxim,  That  whatever  ice  do  by  another, 
71)6  do  ourselves. 

'■'  Nor  are  we  by  any  means  warranted  to  consider  our  indi- 


16  OBSERVATTONS 

vidual  share  in  producing  these  evils  in  a  trivial  point  of  view : 
the  consumption  of  sugar"  and  other  articles  of  slavery  "  jn 
this  country  is  so  immense,  that  the  quantity  commonly  used 
by  individuals  will  have  an  important  effect." 

Q.  11.  What  effect  would  it  have  on  the  slave  holders  and 
their  slaves,  should  the  people  of  the  United  States  of  America 
and  the  inhabitants  of  Great  Britain,  refuse  to  purchase  or 
make  use  of  any  goods  that  are  the  produce  of  slavery  ? 

A.  It  would  doubtless  have  a  particular  effect  on  the  slave 
holders,  by  circumscribing  their  avarice,  and  preventing  their 
heaping  up  riches,  and  living  in  a  state  of  luxury  and  excess 
on  the  gain  of  oppression :  and  it  might  have  the  salutary 
effect  of  convincing  them  of  the  unrighteousness  and  cruelty 
of  holding  their  fellow  creatures  in  bondage  ;  and  it  would 
have  a  blessed  and  excellent  effect  on  the  poor  atliicted  slaves  ; 
as  it  would  immediately  meliorate  their  wretched  condition 
and  abate  their  cruel  bondage ;  for  I  have  been  informed,  and 
reason  naturally  dictates  to  every  one  who  has  made  right 
observations  on  men  and  things,  that  the  higher  the  price  of 
such  produce  is,  the  harder  they  are  driven  at  their  work. 

And  should  the  people  of  the  United  States,  and  the  inhabit- 
ants of  Great  Britain,  withdraw  from  a  commerce  in,  and  the 
use  of  the  produce  of  slavery,  it  would  greatly  lessen  the  price 
of  those  articles,  and  be  a  very  great  and  immediate  relief  to 
the  poor,  injured  and  oppressed  slaves,  whose  blood  is  conthiu- 
ally  ciying  from  the  ground  for  justice,  as  their  lives  are  greatly 
shortened,  and  many  of  them  do  not  live  out  half  their  day? 
by  reason  of  their  cruel  bondage. 

"  If  we  as  individuals  concerned  in  purchasing  and  co-n- 
suming  the  produce  of  slavery,  should  imagine  that  our  share 
in  the  transaction  is  so  minute,  that  it  cannot  perceptibly 
increase  the  injury  ;  let  us  recollect,  that,  though  numbers 
partaking  of  a  crime  may  diminish  the  shame,  they  cannot 
diminish  its  turpitude ;  can  we  suppose,  that  any  injury  of  an 
enormous  magnitude  can  take  place,  and  the  criminality  be 
destroyed,  merely  by  the  criminals  becoming  so  numerous  as 
to  render  their  particular  shares  indistinguishable  1    Were  a 


ON    SLAVERY.  17 

hundred  assassins  to  plunge  their  daggers  into  their  victim, 
though  each  might  plead,  that  without  his  assistance  the  crime 
Avould  have  been  completed,  and. that  his  poniard  neither  occa- 
sioned nor  accelerated  the  murder ;  yet,  every  one  of  them 
would  be  guilty  of  the  entire  crime.  For,  into  how  many 
parts  soever  a  criminal  action  may  be  divided,  the  crime  itself 
rests  entire  and  complete  on  every  perpetrator. 

"  But,  waiving  this  latter  consideration,  and  even  supposing 
for  a  moment,  that  the  evil  has  an  existence  from  causes  totally 
independent  of  us,  yet  it  exists  ;  and  as  we  have  it  in  our  power 
jointly  with  others  to  remedy  it,  it  is  undoubtedly  our  duty  to 
contribute  our  share,  in  hope  that  others  will  theirs  ;  and  to 
act  that  part  from  conscience,  which  we  should  from  inclina- 
tion in  similar  cases  that  interested  our  feelings :"  for  instance, 
let  us  suppose  that  the  way  for  obtaining  slaves  from  Africa 
was  entirely  intercepted,  and  no  other  place  opened  for  obtain- 
ing any,  except  in  the  rivers  Delaware  and  Hudson,  in  North 
America ;  that  the  slave  traders  were  continually  infesting  the 
shores  of  those  rivers,  as  the  only  places  to  be  insulted  with 
impunity  ;  that  they  frequently  kidnapped,  and  sometimes  by 
force  carried  off  numbers  of  the  inhabitants  to  the  West-Indies, 
and  sold  them  as  slaves,  among  whom  were  man^^  of  our  fathers 
and  brothers,  with  their  wives  and  children.  We  now  view 
them  all  hand-cuffed,  two  and  two  together,  crowded  down 
between  the  ship's  decks,  and  so  closely  stowed,  as  to  be  almost 
suffocated  ;  in  consequence  of  which,  a  number  sicken  and 
die,  which  to  them  is  a  veiy  happy  release,  when  compared 
with  the  still  more  cruel  sufferings  that  await  the  survivors. 
We  next  behold  them  in  port,  and  the  day  of  sale  arrives,  when 
they  are  taken  from  on  ship-board,  and  driven  like  a  herd  of 
swine  to  market,  but  worse  treated,  being  manacled  together. 
They  are  here  herded  in  a  pen  or  yard,  like  the  beasts  of  the  field, 
exposed  to  public  sale,  and  without  regard  to  sex  or  age  exam- 
ined by  those  brutal  men,  who  are  to  be  their  purchasers,  as 
naked  as  they  were  born :  and,  when  one  is  struck  off  to  any 
bidder,  a  red  hot  iron  is  ready  to  brand  the  poor  victim  with 
the  name  of  his  tyrant  purchaser.     This  leads  to  a  scene  still 

3 


OBSERVATIONS 


more  grievous,  still  more  deeply  afflicting.  All  nature  is  forced 
to  yield,  when  the  husband  is  separated  from  a  beloved  wife, 
and  a  wife  from  a  beloved  husband,  who  had  been  for  many 
years  the  joy  of  her  life,  and  whom  she  had  expected  would 
have  been  tlie  strength  and  comfort  of  her  declining  years  ; 
but  now,  alas  !  they  are  torn  asunder,  like  bone  from  bone  : 
a  heart-rending  separation  takes  place,  without  a  small  indul- 
gence of  taking  a  spnpathetic  farewell  of  each  other,  or  the 
possibility  of  indulging  the  most  distant  hope  of  seeing  each 
other  again. 

We  behold  the  fond  children,  with  ghastly  look  and  frighted 
eyes,  cling  to  their  beloved  parents,  not  to  be  separated  from 
them,  but  by  the  lash  of  their  cruel  drivers,  who  make  the 
blood  to  start  at  every  stroke  on  their  mangled  bodies.  We 
next,  with  heavy  hearts  and  minds  overwhelmed  with  pity, 
follow  them  to  their  destined  labour  in  the  plantation  field, 
and  by  the  morning  dawn,  we  hear  them  sunm^ioned  to  their 
daily  task,  by  the  clashing  of  cowskin  scourges  in  the  hands  of 
their  hard-hearted  overseers.  And  should  any  of  them,  in 
consequence  of  fatigue  and  loss  of  strength,  fall  a  little  behind 
their  fellow  sufferers,  they  are  immediately  reminded  of  it  by 
the  lash  of  their  cruel  drivers.  But  here  I  must  stop,  as  it  is 
too  much  for  nature  to  pursue  farther  the  dreadfully  degrading 
and  cruel  theme  !  And  is  it  not  enough  to  awaken  and  arouse 
to  sympathy  the  hardest  heart,  and  lead  it  to  exclaim  aloud 
with  abhorrence  aa^ainst  such  brutal  and  unriq-hteous  doings? 
Is  it  possible  that  there  should  be  in  the  United  States  a  man, 
or  would  he  be  worthy  to  bear  the  dignified  name  of  man, 
were  he  so  void  of  the  feelings  of  humanity,  as  to  purchase 
and  make  use  of  the  labour  of  his  fellow  citizens,  his  kindred 
and  his  friends,  produced  in  the  horrid  manner  above  stated  ? 
Would  not  every  sympathetic  heart,  at  the  sight  of  a  piece  of 
sugar,  or  other  article,  that  he  believed  to  be  the  fruit  of  their 
labour,  produced  with  agonizing  hearts  and  trembling  limbs, 
be  filled  with  anguish  and  his  eyes  gush  with  tears  ?  Would 
it  not  awaken  in  the  feeling,  unbiased  mind,  a  sense  of  all  the 
cruel  sufferings   above   related?     Would  it  not,  instead  of 


ON    SLAVERY.  19 

pleasing  his  palate,  be  deeply  wounding  to  the  heart  ?  and,  if 
rightly  considered,  cause  cries  to  arise  from  the  bottom  of  his 
soul,  in  moving  accents  of  supplication  to  the  righteous  Judge 
of  Heaven  and  earth,  that  he  would  be  graciously  pleased  to 
put  a  stop  to  such  complicated  misery  and  great  distress  of  his 
creature  man  l 

But  some,  who  have  not  given  the  subject  a  full  and  impar- 
tial discussion,  may  object  and  say,  the  slaves  in  the  West- 
Indies  and  southern  states,  are  not  our  fellow  citizens  and 
friends.  But  it  cannot  be  objected  by  the  impartial  and  the 
just,  who  know,  that  although  in  a  limited  sense,  as  applied  to 
a  particular  town  or  city,  they  may  not  be  so,  yet  upon  the 
general  and  universal  scale  of  nature,  they  are  our  brethren 
and  fellow  creatures ;  all  privileged  by  nature  and  nature's 
God,  with  liberty  and  free-agency,  and  with  the  blessings 
attendant  thereon  ;  of  which  they  are  not  to  be  deprived,  but 
by  their  own  consent ;  and,  therefore,  have  a  right  to  demand 
of  us  the  same  justice  and  equity,  as  our  fellow  citizens  and 
friends,  in  a  more  limited  sense,  as  above  stated,  could  have 
done  ;  and  to  whom  we  are  accountable  for  every  act  of  injus- 
tice and  omission  of  doing  to  them  as  we  would  they  should 
do  unto  us,  and  for  which  we  shall  all  have  to  answer  ere  long, 
at  the  dread  tribunal  bar,  that  we  can  neither  awe  nor  bribe, 
but  shall  receive  a  just  retribution  for  all  our  works,  whether 
good  or  evil. 

The  foregoing  queries  and  answers,  with  the  annexed  obser- 
vations, are  not  intended  to  criminate  such  of  my  friends  and 
fellow  citizens  whose  residence  is  in  the  slave-holding  states, 
and  necessitated  to  partake  more  or  less  of  the  produce  of 
slavery ;  as  it  is  a  known  principle,  that  necessity  hath  no  law 
— but  only  to  persuade  those  who  are  not  exposed  to  such 
necessity,  to  do  all  in  their  power  to  discourage  and  put  an 
end  to  that  cruel  and  abominable  sin,  of  holdino-  our  fellow 
creatures  in  slavery  ;  as  no  one  livinsf  out  of  the  slave-holdinar 
States,  can  plead  any  necessity  for  trading  in  the  produce  of 
the  labour  of  slaves,  to  enrich  and  aggrandize  themselves,  on 


20  LETTER    TO 

the  groans  and  misery  of  their  fehow  creatures  ;  neither  can 
any  plead  the  necessity,  who  are  hving  in  the  free  States,  to 
indulge  theniselves  in  the  hixuries  raised  by  the  labour  of 
slaves,  in  the  West-Indies  and  other  places ;  but  every  one 
remember,  to  do  unto  others  as  they  would  that  others  sliould 
do  to  them,  when  placed  under  the  like  circumstances. 


LETTEES. 

TO  RUFUS  CLARK,  NEW  HAVEN. 

Jericho,  \~th  of  2d  month,  1813. 
Dear  Friend, 

After  parting  with  tliee  at  Humphreysville,  we  passed  on 
pretty  comfortably  to  Woodbury,  where  we  arrived  early  in 
the  afternoon  and  procured  a  meeting  the  same  evening ;  it 
was  pretty  large,  and,  I  hope,  a  comfortable  edifying  season 
to  many  who  attended.  The  Episcopal  minister  was  present, 
and  passed  away  quietly  without  manifesting  any  dissatisfac- 
tion. The  following  day,  we  rode  to  Danbury,  and  had  a 
meeting  there  in  the  evening  to  good  satisfaction :  a  number 
who  attended,  at  tlie  close,  manifested  a  desire  that  we  would 
tarry  longer  with  them  and  have  another  meeting,  but  the 
way  did  not  appear  open  in  my  mind  for  it  at  that  time  ;  from 
thence  we  went  directly  to  Friends  in  our  state,  and  visited  all 
the  meetings  in  Purchase  Quarter,  that  we  had  not  attended 
in  our  way  out,  except  one  at  Salem.  They  were  generally 
well  attended,  and  some  very  large,  by  the  coming  in  of  many 
of  other  religious  societies.  They  were  generally  very  solemn 
opportunities,  and  I  was  made  glad  in  believing  that  the  Lord 
our  gracious  helper  was  near,  to  bless  his  own  work  and  set 
home  the  truth  delivered  to  the  several  states  of  the  people, 
and  to  comfort  the  hearts  of  the  faithful ;  to  him  alone  be  the 
praise.  I  found  the  work  very  laborious,  having  a  heavy  cold 
on  me,  from  the  time  of  my  leaving  thee,  until  I  got  home, 
and  it  still  continues,  tliough  some  better.  I  got  safe  home 
the  10th  instant,  and  the  peace  of  mind  and  thankfulness  of 


RUFUS    CLARK.  21 

heart  I  felt  on  my  return,  was  more  than  an  ample  reward  for 
all  my  toil.  I  found  my  dear  wife  and  children  well ;  lor 
which,  with  His  other  mercies  vouchsafed,  my  spirit  was 
bowed  in  humble  gratitude  to  the  Gracious  Author  of  all  our 
blessings,  whose  faithfulness  faileth  not,  and  whose  mercies 
are  new  every  morning. 

I  have  felt  much  for  thy  dear  wife*  since  I  left  you,  and  the 
more  so,  I  conclude,  as  something  I  expressed  in  answer  to 
a  queiy  of  one  of  thy  neighbours,  affected,  in  so  serious  a 
manner,  her  tender  feelings.  When  I  expressed  what  I  did 
on  that  subject,  it  was  in  the  simplicity  and  integrity  of  my 
heart,  not  apprehending  that  she,  in  the  least,  was  implicated 
in  the  matter.  My  whole  view  on  the  subject  was  to  strengthen 
the  mind  of  thy  neighbour,  who  I  took  to  be  an  inquirer  after 
the  right  way  ;  and.  believing  as  I  do,  that  scarcely  any  thing 
more  fatal  to  a  right  growth  in  true  religion  can  happen  to 
the  sincere  inquiring  mind,  than  to  be  led  into  a  belief,  that 
conversion  from  sin  is  effected  by  a  sudden  shock  on  the 
human  frame,  which  can  be  effected  many  ways,  by  only 
working  on  the  animal  passions.  Therefore  I  have  long  felt 
it  my  duty  to  endeavour  to  show  every  honest  inquirer,  the 
danger  and  inconsistency  of  such  a  belief  As,  I  think,  it 
must  necessarily  lead  those  who  give  way  thereto  into  much 
exposure,  by  laying  them  open  to  many  temptations ;  for  by 
supposing  themselves  to  be  made  whole  in  so  sudden  a  man- 
ner, it  will  be  likely  to  induce  a  spirit  of  pride,  and  lead  them 
to  imagine  their  condition  to  be  much  better  than  it  really  is. 
This,  I  believe,  has  been  the  case  in  many  instances,  wherein 
they  have  manifested  a  kind  of  triumph  while  a  fiery  zeal 
has  pressed  them  on,  but,  after  the  heat  of  their  spirits  has 
cooled  down,  they  haA^e  entirely  declined  and  gone  back  into 
as  bad,  if  not  worse,  state  than  they  were  in  before  ;  which,  1 
believe,  will  scarcely  ever  be  the  case  with  a  truly  converted 
soul :  such  a  belief,  in  some,  may  likewise  tend  to  carelessness, 

♦  At  the  time  this  letter  was  written,  she  belonged  to  the  Methodists, 
was  afterwards  conv^inced  of  Friends'  principles,  and  became  a  member  ol 
their  society. 


22 


LETTER  TO  RUFUS  CLARK. 


in  respect  to  the  great  and  necessary  work  of  true  christian 
mortification,  which  is  to  know  all  the  desires  of  the  flesh  and 
of  the  will  of  man  brought  down  and  reduced  into  the  perfect 
obedience  of  Christ,  and  this  can  only  be  effected  by  many, 
repeated,  and  deep  baptisms  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  as  it  is  only 
by  these  baptisms  and  sufferings,  that  the  christian  learns  true 
obedience  to  the  will  of  his  Heavenly  Father ;  as  is  implied 
in  the  saying  of  Christ  to  those  of  his  disciples  who  desired 
an  exalted  station.  "  Are  ye  able  to  drink  of  the  cup  that  I 
shall  drink  of,"  which  was  a  cup  of  suffering  and  death,  and 
to  be  baptized  with  the  baptism  that  I  am  baptized  with  ?" — 
and  we  read,  Hebrews  v.  8,  that  even  Christ  himself 
"Learned  obedience  by  the  things  which  he  suffered,"  and 
that  not  for  a  day,  a  month,  or  a  year  only,  but  is  sometimes 
dispensed  to  man,  in  his  fallen  state,  for  many  years,  (as  it 
was  to  Israel  of  old,)  in  order  to  bring  him  out  of  his  fallen 
state,  and  that  the  old  man  may  be  fully  crucified  and  the  soul 
made  meet  for  the  kingdom  of  Heaven,  where  no  unclean 
thing  can  enter,  which  true  and  real  conversion  always 
prepares  for. 

It  is  often  the  fervent  prayer  of  my  mind  that  the  many 
honest  seekers,  scattered  up  and  down,  as  sheep  without  a 
shepherd,  may  be  strengthened  to  wait  and  trust  in  the  Lord, 
and  lean  not  to  their  own  understandings,  nor  put  confidence 
in  man,  "  whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils ;  for  wherem  is  he  to 
be  accounted  of  ?"  but  "  trust  ye  in  the  Lord  for  ever ;  for  in 
the  Lord  Jehovah  is  everlasting  strength  ;"  and  he  wall  surely 
arise  in  his  o^vn  time  for  the  help  of  those  who  trust  in  him 
with  the  whole  heart  and  patiently  wait  for  his  coming. 

I  must  now  conclude,  and  with  love  to  thyself  and  dear 
wife,  in  which  my  wife  joins,  I  rest  thy  friend. 

ELI  AS  HICKS. 


LETTER    TO    WILLIAM    POOLE.  ^^ 


TO   WILLIAM   POOLE,   WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  5th  of  1st  month,  1817. 
Beloved  Friend, 

By  these  I  acknowledg-e  the  due  and  very  acceptable 
reception  of  thy  two  letters  of  last  month,  the  contents  whereof 
tended  to  revive  afresh  the  cordial  friendship  and  affection 
witnessed,  when  I,  Avith  my  companion,  Isaac  Hicks,  was  so 
kindly  entertained  under  thy  roof,  by  thyself  and  family,  and 
which  was  renewed  and  strengthened  by  thy- kind  visit  to  us 
last  spring. 

How  precious  is  the  fellowship  and  affection  which  arises 
from  the  influence  of  that  pure  love  that  binds  together,  in  an 
inseparable  bond,  all  the  children  of  the  Heavenly  Father's 
family ;  and  in  which  is  witnessed  the  truth  of  the  apostle's 
testimony,  that  in  this  union  of  spirits,  "  There  is  neither  Jew 
nor  Greek,  there  is  neither  bond  nor  free,  there  is  neither  male 
nor  female ;  for  ye  are  all  one  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  if  ye  be 
Christ's,  then  are  ye  Abrahanis  seed,  and  heirs  according  to 
the  promise." — Gal.  iii.  28,  29. 

It  is  very  pleasant  and  agreeable,  when  we  are  so  far 
separated  from  our  friends  whom  we  love,  as  not  often  to 
have  the  opportunity  of  commmiing  with  them  face  to  face. 
to  receive  from  them  communications  in  this  epistolary  way, 
and  it  is  likewise  comfortable  and  pleasant,  when  opportunity 
and  ability  offers,  thus  to  communicate  in  true  christian 
sympathy  and  affection.  But  so  many  and  various  are  the 
avocations  that  almost  continually  engross  my  attention,  that 
I  do  not  find  time  and  opportunity  to  visit  my  friends,  in  this 
way,  as  often  as  I  feel  warm  desires  to  do  ;  this  I  plead  as  an 
excuse  for  not  writing  to  thee  ere  now,  although  I  have  often 
thought  of  it.  Yet,  if  thou  supposes  me  still  behindhand  in 
that  respect,  I  would  have  thee  remember,  that  thou  art  not 
to  do  as  thou  art  done  by,  but  in  that  way  that  thou  desires 
others  should  do  by  thee,  then  I  shall  be  favoured,  I  trust,  in 
due  time,  with  more  of  those  agreeable  epistolary  visits  from 


24  LETTERS    TO 

thee;  for  it  is  truly  comfortable  to  me  often  to  hear  of  the 
welfare  of  my  friends  that  I  love ;  and,  I  trust  that  I  love  in 
an  eminent  degree,  all  those  who  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
in  sincerity. 

Thou  no  doubt  remembers  the  exercise  of  my  mind,  as 
manifested  in  our  last  yearly  meeting,  respecting  the  super- 
stitious observance  of  the  first  day  of  the  week,  together  with 
its  demoralizing  tendency  on  the  morals  and  manners  of  a 
great  portion  of  the  inhabitants  of  our  country ;  and  what  is 
extraordinary  to  me,  is,  that  some  in  our  highly  favoured 
society,  who  purpose  to  be  leaders  and  instructers,  should 
appear  so  blind  and  ignorant  on  the  subject ;  as  I  conceive  it 
is  wholly  founded  on  a  mixture  of  Jewish  and  heathenish 
superstition ;  and,  therefore,  more  loudly  calls  for  reformation 
than  if  it  were  altofi-ether  of  Jewish  original.  If  we  should 
now  take  up  anew  the  Jewish  rite  of  circumcision,  it  would 
not  be  so  uiconsistent  and  hurtful,  as  the  superstitious  observ- 
ance of  the  first  day,  as  now  established  by  the  laws  of  our 
country.  The  first  institution  for  keeping  the  day  was  by  an 
edict  of  the  first  emperor  that  professed  christianit^rj  and 
issuing  from  the  unnatural  and  unchristian  union  of  church 
and  state,  it  is  manifestly  nothing  but  an  engine  of  priestcraft. 
This  emperor "s  first  edict  runs  as  follows,  (as  appears  by  the 
early  history  of  the  christian  church,  about  the  year  300.) 
'•  Let  all  the  judges  and  tovrii  people,  and  the  occupations  of 
all  trades,  rest  on  the  venerable  day  of  the  sun,"  (the  first  day 
of  the  week  being  tlie  day  on  which  the  heathen  worshipped 
tlie  sun,  hence  the  reason  of  its  being  called  Sunday,)  '•  but," 
says  his  edict,  "let  those  who  are  situated  in  the  country 
freely,  and  at  full  liberty,  attend  to  the  business  of  agriculture, 
because  it  often  happens  that  no  other  day  is  so  fit  for  sowing 
corn  and  planting  vines,  lest  the  critical  moment  being  let 
slip,  men  should  lose  the  commodities  granted  them  by  the 
providence  of  Heaven."  These  things  considered,  I  conceive 
there  is  no  heathenish  custom,  or  Jewisli  rite,  that,  in  the 
present  day,  calls  more  loudly  for  reformation  than  the  super- 
stitious observance  of  the  day  alluded  to,  and  I  am  fully  of 


LETTER    TO    J N .  25 

the  belief,  that,  had  the  latter  generations  of  Friends  been  as 
faithful  to  the  testimonies  we,  as  a  people,  are  called  to  bear 
against  all  superstitious  and  heathenish  and  Jewish  rites,  as 
were  our  predecessors  in  the  morning  of  the  day,  this  super- 
stition would,  long  ago,  have  been  done  away  and  lost  in 
oblivion  in  this  enlightened  country. 

I  must  now  draw  to  a  close,  as  my  paper  is  not  sufficient  to 
contain  the  fulness  of  my  mind  on  this,  to  me,  important  subject. 

Thy  affectionate  friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 

TO  J N . 


The  following  Letter  was  written  in  answer  to  one  which   Elias   Hicks 

receiv^ed  from  J N ,  who  believed  in  the  doctrine  of  Universal 

Salvation  : 

Baltimore,  lOth  month,  1817. 

Friend, 

On  considering  what  thon  hast  attribnted  to  the  Infinite 
Jehovah  as  comprehending  his  primary  excellences,  I  should 
have  been  greatly  surprised,  had  I  not  known  that  man, 
through  the  medium  of  his  natural  senses,  aided  by  all  his 
earthly  or  creaturely  wisdom,  however  acquired  by  the  deepest 
researches  in  natural  things,  if  unassisted  by  immediate  divine 
revelation,  cannot  know  God,  nor  have  any  just  and  correct 
idea  of  his  excellent  and  glorious  attributes ;  and  that  there- 
fore all  his  ideas  of  the  divine  character  must  be  vague  and 
uncertain,  and  founded  upon  mere  supposition,  without  any 
certain  evidence.  And  how  can  it  be  otherwise,  seeing  that 
God  is  a  spirit,  invisible  and  incomprehensible  to  every  thing 
but  spirit,  agreeably  to  the  doctrine  and  conclusive  argument 
of  the  apostle  Paul,  "What  man  knov^'cth  the  things  of  a  man, 
save  the  spirit  of  man  which  is  in  him  ?  even  so  the  things 
of  God  knoweth  no  man,  but  the  spirit  of  God ;"  and  again, 
"Thenatural  man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  spirit  of  God, 
for  they  are  foolishness  unto  him ;  neither  can  he  know  them, 
because  they  are  spiritually"  and  only  spiritually  '-discerned." 
It  therefore  necessarily  follows,  that  man  Avith  all  the  wisdom 
he  can  acquire,  aided  by  human  science,  however  elaborately 

4 


26  LETTER    TO    J N . 

Studied,  and  with  the  further  assistance  of  all  the  books  and 
writino-s  in  the  world,  if  void  of  immediate  divine  revelation, 
uever  has  known,  nor  ever  can  know,  God,  in  relation  either 
to  his  essence  or  those  excellent  attributes  which  are  in  corres- 
pondence and  unison  with  his  pure,  holy,  and  unchangeable 
nature  ;  for  that  which  may  be  known  of  God  is  manifest 
within  man,*  and  that  not  by  his  reasoning  powers,  but  by  the 
immediate  impression  and  unpremeditated  sensations  which 
the  immortal  spirit  of  man  feels  and  sees  by  being  brought 
into  contact  with,  and  under  the  certain  and  self-evident 
influence  of,  the  spirit  of  God  upon  it.  And  hence  man  is 
enabled  to  attribute  to  God  his  due  only  from  sensible  and 
self-evident  experience.  Just  the  same  as  in  a  natural  and 
outward  relation  :  we  see  the  outward  sun,  we  feel  its  warmth, 
and  walk  in  its  light ,  and  are  thereby  enabled  to  ascribe  to  it 
with  certainty  (and  not  from  blind  and  ignorant  su])position) 
its  real  excellences.  So  also  it  is  as  it  respects  the  invisible 
God ;  that  although  as  it  regards  our  outward  senses  or  the 
powers  of  our  reasoning  faculties,  he  is  to  us  an  impenetrable 
secret,  yet  he  is  clearly  and  sensibly  manifested  to  tlie  immortal 
soul  of  man,  by  the  light  of  his  spirit,  or  the  radiance  of  the 
Heavenly  Sun,  which  is  God.  By  which  manifestation  the 
apostle  was  enabled  to  declare  from  self-evident  certainty,  that 
"  God  is  light,  and  in  him  is  no  darlaiess  at  all :''  and  that 
"  if  we  walk  in  the  light,  as  he  is  in  the  light,  we  have  fellow- 
ship one  with  another,  and  the  blood,"  which  means  no 
doubt  the  spiritual  life,  "of  Jesus  Christ  his  son,  cleanseth 
us  from  all  sin."  Hence  man  in  this  enlightened  state  is 
enabled  to  ascribe  to  God  his  just  and  righteous  due  ;  for  as,  by 
an  entire  submission  and  faithful  obedience  to  the  inspiration 
and  requirings  of  the  spirit  of  God,  man  witnesses,  by  self- 
evident  experience,  a  redemption  from  sin,  and  such  an  entire 
mortification  of  self,  as  to  be  brought  not  only  to  love  his 
neiofhbour  as  himself,  but  to  lovo  even  the  most  cruel  of 
his  enemies  so  as  to  pray  to  God  for  them,  he  comes  to  a 

*  Because  that  which  maybe  known  of  God  is  manifest  in  them;  for  God 
hath  showed  it  unto  them. — Rom.  i.  19. 


LETTER    TO    J N .  27 

self-evident  knowledge  of  at  least  two  of  the  divine  attributes, 
namely,  his  infinite  power  and  his  infinite  mercy.  For  know- 
ing in  himself  the  entire  impossibility  under  which  he  hes  of 
performing  this  by  any  power  of  his  own,  he  ascribes  it  all  to 
God,  as  the  sole  author  thereof.  And  as  by  this  inward 
revelation  all  the  secrets  of  his  heart  are  laid  open,  without  a 
possibility  of  hiding  any  thing  from  him,  so  there  arises  a  self- 
evident  sense  of  his  infinite  prescience.  And  so  also  it  is,  as  it 
relates  to  all  his  other  attributes,  necessary  for  man  to  have 
any  knowledge  of  in  this  state  of  being. 

But  man  cannot  rightly  and  rationally  attribute  any  thing 
to  God  but  what  he  has  knowledge  or  experience  of,  as  every 
thing  else  must  be  founded  on  supposition,  as  something  that 
may  be  or  may  not  be  ;  and  therefore  cannot  be  a  subject 
of  belief,  or  any  part  of  a  Christian's  creed.  And  here  let  me 
observe,  that  the  term  infinite  implies  no  more,  even  in  relation 
to  the  Divine  Being,  than  that  there  is  a  great  First  Cause, 
not  limited  or  bounded  by  any  other  being  or  cause.  But  to 
what  extent  this  unbounded  liberty  is  exercised,  at  any  one 
time,  either  as  it  regards  his  general  or  his  special  providence. 
or  as  it  regards  the  attributes  of  an  infinite  God.  no  finite  beino- 
can  have  any  just  idea  or  conception  of ;  for,  no  doubt,  the 
infinite  Jehovah  has  ways  of  seeing,  knowing,  and  acting, 
which  no  finite  being  can  comprehend  or  have  any  knowledge 
of.  And  therefore,  how  monstrous  for  any  man  to  assert,  that 
if  there  be  a  God,  he  must  from  all  eternity  not  only  have  seen 
and  luiown,  but  also  have  willed  and  ordained,  every  event, 
both  small  and  great,  good  and  bad  ;  yea,  every  foul  action 
and  thought  originating  in  the  chambers  of  wantonness  and 
debauchery ;  and  if  he  is  not  such  a  being,  then  thou  sayst 
there  is  no  God,  or  at  least  thy  ai'guments  and  reasonings 
fairly  imply  such  a  conclusion  and  consequence.  From  which 
there  results,  as  it  relates  to  the  all-wise  and  infinite  Jehovah, 
the  most  palpable  and  daring  presumption  and  absurdity :  for 
what  can  be  more  so,  than  to  charge  the  Almighty  with  being 
the  author  of  all  the  murder,  .lying,  blasphemy,  swearing", 
robbing,  and  stealing,  together  with  the  whole  catalogue  of  sin 


28  LETTER    TO    J N . 

and  iniquity  in  the  world  ?  Would  it  not  have  been  more 
prudent  to  have  deferred  advancing  such  erroneous  doctrines, 
until  thou  hadst  become  better  informed,  and  hadst  a  better 
understanding  of  the  Scriptures  ?  For,  although  thou  hast 
quoted  many  passages  to  give  a  cover  to  thy  assertions  and 
reasonings,  yet  they  afford  no  proof.  Hadst  thou,  in  thy 
researches  after  laiowledge,  been  concerned  to  know  the  first 
stej)  of  wisdom — the  right  knowledge  of  thyself— such  an 
humbling  Aaew  of  thy  own  insufficiency  and  entire  ignorance 
of  the  Divine  Being,  and  all  his  glorious  attributes,  would,  I 
trust,  have  preserved  thee  from  falling  into  thy  present  errors. 
Errors  great  indeed,  and  fatal  in  their  consequences ;  for  if 
men  were  capable  of  believing  with  confidence  thy  opinions, 
either  as  regards  the  doctrine  of  unconditional  predestination 
and  election,  or  the  doctrine  of  universal  salvation,  both  of 
which  certainly  and  necessarily  resolve  in  one,  who  could  any 
longer  call  any  thing  he  has  his  own  ?  for  all  would  fall  a 
prey  to  the  villains  and  sturdy  rogues  of  this  belief  And, 
indeed,  a  belief  of  these  opinions  would  most  assuredly  make 
thousands  more  of  that  description,  than  there  already  are  ; 
as  every  temptation  to  evil,  to  gratify  the  carnal  desires,  would 
be  yielded  to,  as  that  which  was  ordained  to  be ;  and  of  course 
would  be  considered  as  something  aofreeable  to  God's  crood 
pleasure  ;  and  therefore  not  only  our  goods  and  chattels  would 
become  a  prey  to  every  ruffian  of  this  belief,  but  even  our 
wives  and  daughters  would  fall  victims  to  the  superior  force 
of  the  abandoned  and  proffigate,  as  believing  they  could  do 
nothing  but  what  God  had  ordained  to  be. 

But  we  are  thankful  in  the  sentiment,  that  no  rational 
intelligent  being  can  possibly'  embrace,  in  full  faith,  tiiese 
inconsistent  doctrines  ;  as  they  are  founded  on  nothing  but 
supposition  :  and  supposition  can  never  produce  real  belief,  or 
a  faith  that  any  rational  creature  can  rely  upon.  I  am  fully 
convinced,  that  the  doctrines  thou  art  endeavouring  to  dis- 
seminate, and  which  have  Jjeen  professed  by  thousands  in 
days  past,  and  are  held  by  many  in  the  present  day,  have 
their  origin  in  a  profound  ignorance  of  God  and  his  righteous 


LETTER    TO   J N .  29 

attributes,  from  which  source  infidehty  and  unbehcf  liave  been 
produced.  For  the  creature,  in  his  hmited  and  carnal  wisdom, 
undertaking  to  search  out  the  essence  and  first  cause  of  all 
things,  without  possessing  a  capacity  or  power  for  such 
investigation,  can  only  proceed  therein  by  guessing  and  sur- 
mising :  hence  the  infidel  springs  up,  who  assures  us,  as  his 
opinion,  that  all  things  come  by  chance  ;  and  which,  I  con- 
ceive, fairly  embraces  thy  doctrine  of  "  one  eternal  now ;" 
which  implies,  if  it  implies  any  thing,  that  all  things  have 
been  hurled  into  existence  in  an  instant,  by  mere  blind 
chance,  and  without  any  intelligent  designing  First  Cause. 
This  difference  only  excepted  ;  thou  guessest  or  surmisest 
that  there  is  a  First  Cause  ;  and  thou  supposest  him  to 
be  of  such  a  particular  fancied  description,  and  if  he  is  not 
just  what  thou  hast  described  him  to  be,  thou  assurest  us  he 
has  no  being.  And  as  one  supposition  or  guess  is  as  good 
and  as  certain  as  another,  until  the  one  or  the  other  is  proved 
by  evidence,  therefore  the  infidel's  guess  or  supposition  is  not 
only  as  rational  but  even  more  consistent  than  thine  :  for  thou 
supposest  a  great  First  Cause,  just,  pure,  holy,  and  merciful. 
and  at  the  same  time  makest  him  the  author  of  all  the  injustice, 
impurity,  unholiness,  and  cruelty  which  exist ;  but  the  infidel 
believes  all  things  to  come  by  chance,  and,  therefore,  charges 
no  wrong  upon  any  one. 

I  will  now  notice  thy  great  struggle  to  reconcile  contra- 
dictions, and  by  which  thou  art  at  variance  with  the  doctrine 
of  the  apostle,  where  he  says,  that  "  faith  without  works  is 
dead  ;"  for  thou  sayst  that  every  individual,  who  in  this  life 
becomes  fit  for  the  blessings  of  paradise,  must  have  been  pre- 
ordained thereto  :  of  course,  thou  entirely  destroys  man  s  free 
agency,  and  if  that  be  taken  away  the  work  is  all  done  ;  man 
can  neitlier  fall  nor  rise ;  do  wickedly  nor  justly ;  commit 
sin  nor  do  o-ood :  therefore  his  actions  and  thoughts  must  be 
all  good,  and  likewise  good  for  nothing,  as  they  can  neither 
make  him  happy  nor  miserable.  Away  then  goes  all  salvation 
and  all  reprobation,  for  by  thy  doctrine  they  sinls  into  eternal 
oblivion. 


30  LETTER    TO   J- 


I  will  now  seriously  ask  thee,  whether  the  servant  in  the 
parable,  was  condemned  to  the  shades  of  darkness  for  having, 
or  not  liaving,  a  talent  to  improve  ?  Thou  wilt,  I  trust,  most 
certainly  acknowledge,  as  the  scriptures  and  common  sense 
assure  us,  that  it  was  for  having  one.  Then  certainly  he  must 
have  had  power  and  ahility  to  improve  it :  and  if  he  had  power 
to  improve  it,  as  the  other  two  did  theirs,  then  certainly  it  was 
his  master's  will  that  he  should  have  improved  it.  Hence  we  are 
assured,  from  the  tenor  of  this  parable,  that  a  certain  act  and 
thing  has  been  done,  that  the  all-righteous  and  unchangeable 
Jehovah  neither  willed  nor  ordained,  unless  he  willeth  contra- 
ries ;  which  I  conclude  neither  thou  nor  any  other  person 
would  be  willing  to  believe.  Hence  it  further  appears,  that 
the  act  of  disobedience  originated  entirely  in  the  independent 
will  of  man  ;  as  has  every  other  sin  in  the  world.  It  is  a  fact 
which  must  be  admitted,  that  every  man  that  has  sinned  hath 
self-evident  knowledge  of  it,  if  any  thing  can  be  self-evident  to 
man :  and  therefore,  if  thy  premises  are  well  founded,  that 
every  thing  that  the  Divine  Being  foreknows  he  wills  and 
ordains,  then  the  conclusion  will  follow,  according  to  thy 
arguments,  that  he  has  not  foreknown  any  sin ;  for  I  think 
there  is  nothing  more  certain,  as  above  proved,  than  that  the 
Divine  Being  never  willed  nor  ordained  the  commission  of  any. 
Sin  arises  entirely  out  of  the  corrupt  independent  will  of  man  ; 
and  which  will  is  not  of  God's  creating,  but  springs  up  and 
has  its  origin  in  man's  disobedience  and  transgression,  by  mak- 
ing a  wrong  use  of  his  liberty.  And  as  this  corrupt  will  of 
man  is  adventitious  to  him  and  no  part  of  his  original  state, 
but  has  its  orighi  in  the  wrong  use  of  his  free  agency,  by  which 
he  has  fallen  from  God  into  a  state  of  darkness  and  death  ;  so, 
when  through  the  renewed  emanations  of  the  divine  light  and 
life,  man  is  again  quickened,  and  brought  to  see  his  wretched 
condition,  and  in  this  divine  visitation,  while  lengthened  out  to 
him,  he  makes  a  new  election,  in  which  he  chooses  God  for 
his  portion,  and  his  inward  light  and  law  for  his  guide,  and 
follows  it  in  faithful  obedience,  then  he  knows  his  corrupt  will 
to  be  slain,  and  cast  out  into  the  ocean  of  oblivion,  and  God's 


LETTER    TO    J- 


31 


will  becomes  to  him  all  in  all.  Hence  man  becomes  again 
reconciled  to  his  Maker,  in  bonds  of  filial  love  and  duty,  and 
witnesses  the  completion  of  a  new  birth.  But  if  he  still  per- 
sists in  the  exercise  of  his  own  corrupt  will,  during  the  day  of 
his  visitation,  until  his  heart  is  hardened,  and  he  wears  out  the 
mercy  of  a  gracious  God,  then  he  comes  jto  witness  the  truth 
of  the  apostle's  doctrine,  "  indignation  and  wrath,  tribulation 
and  anguish,  upon  every  soul  of  man  that  doeth  evil,  of  the 
Jew  first,  and  also  of  the  Gentile." 

I  will  now  give  thee  my  views  of  Divine  foreknowledge, 
arising  out  of  my  own  experience,  and  not  founded  on  suppo- 
sition or  surmise,  but  on  certainty.  I  believe  that  the  pres- 
cience of  the  Almighty  is  infinite,  that  is,  unbounded ;  but  how 
far  he  extends  it  in  the  unbounded  liberty  of  his  own  free  will, 
I  would  not  dare  to  say,  because  it  is  beyond  all  finite  compre- 
hension. I  also  believe,  that  his  all-searching  eye  "  beholdeth 
the  evil  and  the  good''  according  to  his  own  good  pleasure  ; — 
but  I  believe,  seeing  and  knowing  a  thing,  stand  entirely  dis- 
tinct from  willino-  and  ordaining^  it.  And  I  have  admired 
froiii  whence  that  presumptuous  idea  should  have  arisen  in 
the  minds  of  men,  which  obliges  the  Divine  Being  to  will  and 
ordain  every  thing  he  foreknows ;  seeing,  it  not  only  limits  his 
liberty  and  power,  but  also  makes  him  the  sole  author  of  every 
sin  and  evil  in  the  world.  Surely,  these  men  would  think  it 
very  hard  and  cruel,  were  their  neighbours  to  accuse  them  of 
being  the  authors  of  all  or  any  part  of  the  evils  that  transpire 
among  them,  because  they  had  a  just  sense  thereof  before  they 
came  to  pass ;  for  we  know,  that  man  by  the  strength  of  his 
reasoning  powers,  does  foresee  some  events  connected  with 
causes  and  eflects,  and  such  as  he  had  no  agency  in  bringing 
about,  but  were  entirely  the  product  of  the  will  and  design 
of  another.  And  so  it  is  in  regard  to  the  Divine  Being :  for, 
seeing  man  was  created  a  rational,  intelligent  creature,  in 
order  that  he  might  be  a  happy  creature,  and  as  no 
rational  creature  could  be  happy  without  liberty,  and  this 
Hberty  to  be  useful  in  procuring  happiness,  must  be  an 
uncontrolled  one,  Divine  Wisdom  saw  it  ridit  and  needful 


32  LETTER    TO   J- 


to  confer  this  uncontrolled  liberty  on  his  creature  man,  so  far 
as  was  necessary  to  render  him  an  accountable  and  a  happy 
being.  And  I  think  there  is  no  truth  more  plain,  than  that 
a  rational,  intelligent  being,  can  neither  be  accountable  nor 
happy  without  being  placed  in  a  state  of  entire  independence 
as  it  regards  the  choice  of  things  which  constitute  his  ac- 
countability and  happiness. 

Now  if  this  be  the  case,  many  things  may  and  will  tran^ire, 
originating  in  this  free  agency  of  man,  whidh  the  Divine  Being 
never  willed  nor  ordained ;  and  in  this  correct  view  of  things 
we  fairly  and  fully  exonerate  the  divine  Author  of  all  good, 
from  being  the  author  of  sin,  in  any  degree,  and  from  willing 
any  thing  but  good ;  and  justly  place  the  odium  where  it 
belongs,  on  man's  independent  and  corrupt  will. 

I  think  every  sensible  person  must  see  the  vast  difference 
there  is  between  these  two  doctrines.  The  first,  that  of  preor- 
dination or  universal  salvation,  which  resolve  in  one,  tending 
continually  to  set  people  at  ease  in  their  sins,  and  to  encourage 
them  in  the  pursuit  of  their  own  carnal  desires  and  gratifica- 
tions ;  the  other,  to  wit,  his  free  agency,  and  consequent  pos 
sible  happiness,  tending  continually  to  stimulate  to  eveiy  vir- 
tuous pursuit,  and  the  necessity  of  living  under  the  cross  to 
the  carnal  inclinations :  being  bound  to  do  justly,  love  mercy, 
and  to  walk  humbly  with  God,  as  duties,  not  only  required  of 
every  man,  but  as  certainly  as  they  are  required,  so  certainly  to 
be  attained,  if  sought  after  and  laboured  for  through  the  assist- 
ance of  divine  grace. 

The  principal  cause  of  the  darkness  and  ignorance  which 
prevail  amongst  men,  in  regard  to  a  future  state  of  rewards 
and  punishments,  arises,  I  conceive,  from  the  want  of  a  right 
knowledge  of  God,  and  of  those  general  and  immutable  laws, 
by  which  all  things  in  heaven  and  in  earth  are  governed,  and 
which  result  from  the  united  and  unchangeable  attributes  of 
the  infinite  Jehovah ;  to  wit,  his  justice,  wisdom,  power,  mercy, 
and  love,  which  never  act  independent  of  each  other,  but 
always  in  luiison.  And  there  is  one  general  and  immutable 
law,  that  pervades  all  nature,  that  is,  that  hke  produces  its 


LETTER    TO    J N .  33 

like ;  viz.  tiie  fig-tree  will  produce  figs  ;  the  thorn-tree  will 
produce  thorns  ;  of  course  every  tree  its  ov/n  fruit.  A  good 
tree  good  fruit,  and  a  corrupt  tree  corrupt  fruit ;  and  at  the  same 
time  God  dispenses  to  tliose  different  kinds  ahke,  in  justice, 
wisdom,  power,  mercy  and  love.  He  causes  his  rain  to 
descend  equally  on  each,  and  his  sun  to  shine  on  all  alike. 
Just  so  it  is  in  relation  to  his  free-agent  creature  man,  who, 
throixgh  the  power  conferred  upon  him  in  his  free-agency, 
whilst  in  this  probationary  state,  may  be,  speaking  figuratively, 
a  good  tree,  or  a  corrupt  tree,  agreeably  to  his  own  election  ; 
yet  God  dispenses  to  all  alike  in  justice,  wisdom,  power,  mercy 
and  love.  Hence  those  who  make  their  election  to  good,  and 
choose  to  follow  the  teachings  of  the  inward  law  of  the  spirit 
of  God,  are  of  course  leavened  into  the  true  nature  of  God,  and 
consequently  into  the  happiness  of  God.  For  nothing  but  that 
which  is  of  the  nature  of  God,  can  enjoy  the  happiness  of 
God.  But  he  who  makes  his  election,  or  choice,  to  turn  away 
from  God's  law  and  spirit,  and  governs  himself,  or  is  governed 
by  his  own  will  and  spirit,  becomes  a  corrupt  tree ;  and  although 
the  same  justice,  wisdom,  power,  mercy,  and  love,  are  dispensed 
to  this  man,  as  to  the  other,  yet  by  his  contrary  nature,  which 
has  become  fleshly,  by  following  his  fleshly  inclinations,  he 
brings  forth  corrupt  fruit. 

Hence  each  has  his  own  reward  according  to  their  different 
natures,  without  any  change  in  the  Divine  Being  towards  them. 
For,  to  the  first,  his  justice,  power,  wisdom,  mercy  and  love, 
constitute  happiness  and  heaven ;  whilst  to  the  latter,  they 
constitute  misery  and  hell,  without  the  least  change  in  their 
common  Creator.  Hence  all  the  happiness  of  the  one,  and 
the  unhappiness  of  the  other,  arises  solely  from  their  different 
natures ;  and  this  difference  is  n-ot  of  God,  but  wholly  from 
the  effect  of  their  own  choice,  and  the  nature  and  influence 
of  their  different  leaders.  And  we  have  no  reason  to  suppose, 
that  any  rational  creature,  who,  in  making  his  election,  chooses 
to  follow  the  lust  of  the  flesh,  the  lust  of  the  eye,  and  the  pride 
of  life,  and  becomes  so  wedded  to  those  carnal  pleasures  and 
delights,  as  to  continue  in  them  during  the  day  of  his  visita- 


34  LETTER  TO 

tion  and  probation,  would,  if  he  had  an  eternity  of  probation, 
either  here  or  hereafter,  ever  alter  his  course ;  as  his  whole 
nature  would  be  so  interwoven  into  the  very  nature  of  the 
evils  which  he  had  chosen  to  follow,  as  not  to  feel  any  induce- 
ment or  power  to  change.  Just  in  the  same  manner  it  is  with 
him  who  makes  liis  election  to  God,  and  faithfully  follows  the 
leadings  of  the  spirit  of  truth,  during  the  day  of  his  probation 
here  ;  he  becomes  so  wedded  to  it,  interwoven,  and  swallowed 
up  into  its  divine  nature,  as  not  to  have  any  possible  induce- 
ment or  power  to  change.  And,  therefore,  had  he  to  pass 
throug-h  an  eternity  of  probation,  either  here  or  hereafter,  it 
would  have  no  tendency  at  all  to  alter  him  ;  which  I  iiold  to 
be  according  to  the  doctrine  of  the  beloved  apostle  John : 
"  Whosoever  is  born  of  God  doth  not  commit  sin,  for  his  seed 
remaineth  in  him,  and  he  cannot  sin,,  because  he  is  born  of 
God." 

With  real  concern,  and  desire  for  thy  present  and  future  wel- 
fare, I  conclude  with  recommending  the  foregoing  remarks 
and  observations  to  thy  candid  and  unprejudiced  considera- 
tion, and  rest  thy  assured  friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM   POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  Ibfk  of  6th  month,  1817. 
Dear  Ffuend, 

Thy  favour  of  third  month  last  came  duly  to  hand,  and 
was  very  acceptable  :  the  contents  whereof  have  obtained  my 
serious  attention,  and,  notwithstanding  I  concur  with  thee, 
in  thy  general  observations,  relative  to  our  cherishing  a 
disposition  of  forbearance  and  charity  towards  one  another  in 
things  of  an  indifferent  nature,  and  in  those  where  our  views 
may  be  diverse,  although,  at  the  same  time,  each  may  act  from 
right  and  sincere  motives  ;  yet,  I  do  not  suppose,  to  advance 
doctrines  and  opinions  that  we  believe  are  founded  in  truth, 
and  in  the  very  Mature  and  reason  of  things,  and  to  enforce 


"WILLIAM    POOLE.  35 

them  with  all  the  energy  and  demonstration  that  we  are 
capable  of,  is  in  any  respect  contradictory  to  such  forbearance 
and  charity,  but  rather,  1  conceive,  goes  to  establish  such  a 
disposition,  as  it  manifests  a  desire  of  improving  and  advancing 
others  at  our  own  risk,  and  the  endangering  the  loss  of  our 
own  reputation,  at  least  with  the  unthinking  multitude,  and 
he  that  prizes  his  reputation  higher  than  he  does  his  Christian 
duty,  is  seldom  found  in  the  practice  of  it. 

Thy  arguments  in  favour  of  the  retention  of'  a  Legal 
Sabbath,  in  my  opinion,  carry  very  strong  evidence  against  it. 
Thou  queries, — is  the  appropriation  of  one  day,  the  reason  for 
the  abuse  of  all  days,  or  is  it  not  rather  that  latent  root  of  evil 
in  the  mind  that  respects  no  day  ?  To  which  I  may  answer, 
I  have  no  idea  of  any  latent  or  hidden  root  of  evil  in  the  heart 
of  man,  when  viewed  as  the  offspring  of  infinite  perfection; 
but  I  believe  him  to  be  possessed,  as  the  good  gifts  of  his 
bountiful  Creator,  with  the  power  of  free-agency,  or  freedom 
of  will,  and  with  propensities,  tending  to  induce  him  to  seek 
after,  and  strive  to  obtain,  the  means  of  preserving  life,  and 
suitable  sustenance  to  these  mortal  bodies,  together  with 
comfort  and  joy.  But  at  the  same  time,  liable  so  to  be  acted 
upon,  by  things  without  him,  as  not  to  make  a  right  use  of 
these  blessings,  but  to  abuse  them,  so  as  to  produce  evil  to 
himself  and  injury  to  his  fellow  creatures,  and,  I  apprehend, 
these  evils  have  been  greatly  increased  by  the  setting  apart, 
by  law,  the  first  day  of  the  week,  as  a  day  of  idleness  or  rest, 
forbidding  all  the  inhabitants,  under  certain  penalties,  doing 
any  act  of  useful  business  on  that  day,  either  smaU  or  great, 
although  laudable  and  praiseworthy  if  done  on  any  other  day. 
T^his  I  assert  from  experience,  and  from  my  observation  for 
more  than  fifty  years  past,  and  I  cannot  see  how  it  can  be 
otherwise,  in  the  view  and  observation  of  any  sensible  persons, 
unless  their  minds  have  been  fettered  by  the  undue  force  of 
custom  and  tradition :  for  when  we  consider  that  in  this 
enlightened  country,  where  the  inhabitants  are  taught  to  think 
for  themselves,  and  not  receive  their  faith  from  their  parents 
or  tutors,  any  farther  than  as  their  counsel  accords  with  the 


36  LETTER  TO 

dictates  of  their  own  consciences  ;  the  number  that  can 
persuade  themselves  that  there  is  any  thing  sacred  or  holy  in 
that  day,  more  than  another,  is  very  small,  and  many,  I  believe, 
acquiesce  in  the  custom  of  keeping  it  as  a  Holyday,  more  from 
the  popularity  of  the  measure,  than  from  any  sincere  belief 
of  the  rectitude  thereof  Therefore,  in  this  view  of  the  subject, 
it  appears  to  me  impossible  that  any  good  should  come  from 
it ;  and  to  consider  it  as  a  mere  moral  Sabbath,  or  day  of  rest 
from  our  outward  avocations  and  useful  labour,  is,  in  my 
opinion,  altogether  irrational,  as  there  is  not  a  trace  of  any 
practice  of  the  kind  recorded  in  any  history,  that  I  have  met 
with,  except  since  the  reformation  :  and  it  is  particularly 
objectionable  as  now  observed,  as  some  members  of  our  own 
Society,  and  some  others,  seeing  the  inconsistency  of  admittiing 
the  idea  under  the  Christian  dispensation  of  a  seventh  day 
Sabbath,  as  a  day  more  holy  than  another,  in  order  to  accom- 
modate their  conduct  to  a  compliance  with  a  superstitious 
law  of  the  government  they  live  under,  have  metamorphosed 
it  to  a  moral  Sabbath,  or  mere  day  of  rest  from  their  useful 
vocations,  and  so,  by  far-fetched  arguments,  founded  in  sup- 
positions, but  without  evidence  as  to  the  truth  of  them,  have 
quieted  their  consciences,  so  as  to  get  along  easy  in  the  mix- 
ture with  the  multitude,  whereby  our  usefulness  as  a  peculiar 
people,  called  to  hold  forth  to  the  world  pure  and  peculiar 
testimonies,  has  been  very  much  lessened,  and  the  reformation 
obstructed. 

Thy  arguments  on  this  head,  in  my  opinion,  contradict 
themselves.  Thou  sayest,  it  is  a  pleasure  to  reflect  that  the 
poor  horse,  after  six  days'  labour,  is  entitled  to  the  seventh  as 
a  day  of  rest.  But  let  us  query, — is  it  so  ?  I  conceive  nott; 
neither  will  it  ever  be  so  ;  unless  we  are  brought  again  under 
tlie  Jewish  code,  with  its  severe  restrictions.  I  believe,  it  is 
so  far  from  being  a  day  of  respite,  generally  speaking,  to  the 
poor  horse,  that  it  rather  increases  his  burden  ;  for  thou 
allows,  that  if  all  were  brought  under  the  influ.ence  of  a  true 
Christian  spirit,  such  an  appropriation  would  not  be  needed  : 
therefore  the  benefit  of  it,  if  any,  must  result  from  its  influence 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  37 

on  the  covetous  and  avaricious,  wliich  nothing  but  self-interest 
will  govern.  For  their  business  is  often  so  planned  as  to  do. 
if  possible,  as  much  work  in  six  days  as  would  have  been 
done  in  seven,  had  there  been  no  such  appropriation  ;  hence 
those  animals  are  driven  in  the  six  days,  agreeably  to  this 
view,  as  much  as  they  would  have  been  in  seven,  as  the 
seventh  is  considered  a  lost  day.  Add  to  tliis,  that  those  men 
have  many  cares,  therefore  there  are  many  portions  of  business 
allotted  for  the  first  day,  such  as  money  to  collect,  and  men  to 
be  seen  to  converse  about  some  particular  business ;  here  the 
poor  horse  is  called  upon,  and  must  go,  whip  and  spur,  say  ten, 
twenty,  or  thirty  miles,  and  back  at  night,  and  to  make  this 
appear  plausible,  and  as  they  may  more  likely  meet  their  friends, 
who  also  come  with  the  same  views,  they  attend  some  place  call- 
ed a  place  of  worship ;  hence  instead  of  being  a  day  of  rest,  it 
is  often  a  day  of  greater  fatigue  than  any  in  the  week,  to  both 
man  and  horse.  But  the  case  thou  mentions  of  the  poor  slaves, 
is  in  favour  of  my  views,  as  they  are  generally  driven,  by 
their  hard-hearted  claimants,  so  as  in  six  days,  if  possible, 
to  gain  the  seventh,  as  their  masters  consider  that  as  so 
much  lost  time  to  them,  unless  the  slaves  work  hard  on  the 
seventh  for  themselves,  as  they  term  it,  which,  however,  is 
only  nominally  so,  for  their  masters  reap  the  principal  profit 
thereof  These  considerations  prove,  that  a  mere  moral  Sab- 
bath, or  day  of  rest  from  labour,  as  plead  for  by  some,  is  not 
necessary,  nor  consistent,  as  it  not  only  defeats  its  supposed 
use,  but  impeaches  the  divine  character  as  not  having  rightly 
divided  the  time  for  labour,  and  the  time  for  rest,  and  that  he 
has  acted  partially  towards  the  children  of  men  in  not  having 
enlightened  any  of  them  to  see  the  utility  of  such  an  appro- 
priation, nor  even,  from  what  appears,  suggested  the  idea  to 
any,  until  he  appointed  it  to  Israel  with  the  rest  of  their 
shadows,  and  then  to  no  other  but  that  people,  and  he  has 
not  even  given  it  to  them  with  a  view  of  moral  advantage, 
or  profit,  as  a  mere  day  of  rest  from  bodily  labour  ;  but  as 
pointing  and  leading  to  a  more  excellent  state,  the  subjugation 
of  their  wills  to  the  divine  will :  the  same  as  circumcision, 


38  LETTER    TO 

their  sacrifices,  (fcc. :  and,  as  certainly  to  be  ended  at  the  close 
of  that  dispensation,  as  any  other  ritual  thereof.  And,  there- 
fore, I  consider  the  institution  of  a  first  day  Sabbath,  or  the 
setting  apart  one  day  in  seven  as  a  day  of  rest,  and  the 
sanctioning  of  the  same  by  a  penal  law,  utterly  inconsistent 
with  the  Gospel  dispensation,  and  unsupported  by  revelation 
and- right  reason,  and  altogether  the  offspring  of  superstition, 
and  idolatry  ;  which  is  clearly  evinced  by  its  fruits,  for  it  has 
always  been,  from  its  first  institution,  a  source  of  persecution, 
and  naturally  tends,  especially  in  this  enlightened  age,  to 
lessen  the  authority  and  use  of  magistracy  ;  for  some  of  these, 
through  their  own  superstition,  and  many  others,  by  the 
instigation  of  their  hireling  teachers,  whose  interest  lies  in 
involving  the  people  in  ceremony,  are  induced  to  persecute 
their  innocent  neighbours,  by  enforcing  penalties  upon  them 
for  what  they  term  a  breach  of  the  Sabbath,  when  only  doing 
a  small  share  of  useful  and  commendable  labour,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  will  overlook  acts  of  gross  immorality.  By  which 
they  not  only  lose  their  authority  as  magistrates,  but  greatly 
impair  their  own  reputation,  and  that  of  the  government  they 
act  under. 

But  there  is  another  consideration,  that  will,  I  think  give 
conclusive  evidence  in  the  case,  and  which  will  be  found 
in  an  answer  to  this  query,  viz:  Has,  or  has  not,  DiA'ine 
Wisdom  established,  by  an  immutable  law,  as  old  as  the  world, 
a  right  distribution  of  time,  and  so  divided  it  into  appropriate 
seasons,  with  a  time  for  labour  and  a  time  for  rest,  that  the 
most  consummate  wisdom  of  man  can  never  amend  ?  The 
answer  appears  to  me  obvious,  and  natural — he  has.  For 
when  I  reflect  upon  the  beautiful  order  displayed  by  Divine 
Wisdom  in  the  universe,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  conceive  how  the 
rational  creature  man  should  have  conceived  the  idea  of 
amending  it,  without  great  presumption  :  for  when  we  view 
the  regular  succession  of  day  and  night,  surely  no  rational 
creature  can  ask  for  more  time  to  rest  than  is  given  by  this 
arrangement. 

Had  the   society  of  Friends  persevered  consistently  with 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  m         39 

their  first  principle,  the  inward  hght  and  law,  and  their 
declared  sense  respecting  the  first  day  of  the  week  being  insti- 
tuted as  a  sabbath,  there  is  little  reason  to  doubt,  but  that  the 
Society  would  long  before  this  have  been  liberated  from  the 
superstitious  observance  thereof,  and  of  being  continually  lia- 
ble to  persecution  for  a  breach  of  it.  For,  as  Barclay  well 
observes,  "  We,  not  seeing  any  ground  in  Scripture  for  it. 
cannot  be  so  superstitious  as  to  believe,  that  either  the  Jewish 
Sabbath  now  continues,  or  that  the  first  day  of  the  week  is 
the  anti-type  thereof,  or  the  true  Christian  Sabbath  ;  which, 
with  Calvin,  we  believe  to  have  a  more  spiritual  sense,  and 
therefore  we  know  no  moral  obligation,  by  the  fourth  com- 
mandment or  elsewhere,  to  keep  the  first  day  of  the  week, 
more  than  any  other,  or  any  holiness  inherent  in  it.'' 

Could  it  be  proved  from  Scripture  (which  nevertheless,  J 
conceive,  it  cannot)  that  the  apostles  and  primitive  Christians 
did  use  the  first  day  of  the  week,  for  the  purpose  of  worship, 
in  preference  to  any  other  day,  yet  that  is  no  more  than  can 
clearly  be  proved  concerning  many  other  superstitious  rites, 
retained  among  the  greater  part  of  professed  Christians,  such  as 
water  baptism,  their  bread  and  wine,  (fcc.  Therefore  the  rea- 
sons which  some  give  for  our  joining  with  others  in  setting 
apart  the  first  day  of  the  week,  for  the  purpose  of  worship 
and  a  day  of  rest,  go  as  fully  to  prove  the  necessity  of  our 
compliance  with  them  in  those  other  superstitious  rituals  :  for 
I  do  not  find  any  thing  in  all  the  New  Testament,  enforcing 
the  present  manner  of  observing  the  first  day  of  the  week  : 
therefore  I  think  it  is  altogether  unfounded  in  revelation,  scrip- 
ture, and  right  reason. 

But  nevertheless,  I  agree  Avith  thee,  and  I  have  had  no  other 
sentiment  in  the  case,  that  the  great  mass  of  the  people,  even 
in  this  enlightened  country,  are  not  prepared  for  a  sudden 
change ;  and  it  is  a  subject  that  will  take  some  time  to  spread 
and  prevail,  but  that  ought  not  to  hinder  those  who  are  pre- 
pared, and  who  clearly  see  the  injury  attached  to  the  measure, 
from  spreading  their  prospects,  and  giving  them  all  the  force 
they  can  ;  as  such  an  improvement  of  their  time  and  talents 


40        ^  LETTER    TO 

is  comprehended,  both  in  their  duty  to  their  Creator  and  to 
man  their  fellow  creature. 

As  to  thy  question,  relative  to  the  origin  of  evil,  I  may  take 
the  liberty,  as  my  best  present  answer,  to  say  I  consider  it  a 
useless  occupancy  of  our  time  and  talents,  and  but  a  vain 
stretch  of  our  imagination,  to  seek  after  that  which  is  rendered 
incomprehensible  by  our  gracious  Creator  to  our  finite  under- 
standings. Let  us  be  content  with  what  we  experience  in  our- 
selves, in  accordance  with  the  testimony  of  the  apostle,  that 
what  is  to  be  known  of  God,  or  the  real  Good,  is  manifest 
witliin  man  ;  so  likewise  all  that  we  know  of  the  real  source  of 
evil,  is  manifested  within  ;  but  in  both  cases,  in  a  limited 
degree,  suited  to  our  present  state  ;  yet  in  sufficient  fulness  to 
effect  every  good  purpose  to  man,  as  he  patiently  abides  in  his 
proper  allotment. 

I  may  just  add,  and  I  tliink  with  real  gratitude  to  our  all- 
gracious  and  beneficent  benefactor,  that  our  late  yearly  meet- 
ing was  one  of  the  most  favoured,  through  the  several  sittings, 
of  any  in  my  present  remembrance,  although  we  had  a  less 
number  of  visiters,  from  other  yearly  meetings,  than  for  many 
years  past. 

My  wife  and  children  join  me  in  love  to  thee  and  thine,  in 
which  T  rest  thy  affectionate  friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO   WILLIAM    POOLE,   WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  1st  mo.  lUh,  1SI8. 
Beloved  Friend, 

Thy  affectionate  lines  of  11th  mo.  27th,  came  to  hand  soon 

after  their  date,  while  I  was  visiting  the  meetings  of  Salem 

(juarter,  by  the  attentive  care  of  our  mutual  friend,  Samuel  R. 

Fisher  :  their  contents  were  truly  grateful,  and  met  the  fullest 

accordance  of  my  mind.     I  unite  with  thee  in  feeling  a  desire, 

that  all  who  hear  scntimcnls  and  doctrines  delivered,  that  em- 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  41 

brace  man's  best  interest  here,  and  which  may  effect  his  happi- 
ness hereafter,  may  be  not  only  convinced  of  their  trnth  and 
rectitude,  but  also  be  in  the  practice  of  what  they  teach ;  never- 
theless, we  have  no  just  reason  to  hope,  that  this  will  in  any 
general  way  be  the  case,  not  even  if  those  doctrines  are  deli- 
vered in  the  clearest  manner,  and  under  the  influence  of  Divine 
wisdom.  This,  I  conceive,  is  a  truth  as  fully  demonstrated  in 
the  Scriptures,  as  any  truth  they  contain,  and  some  know  it  in 
their  own  experience  and  observation.  I  have  no  doubt  but 
Divine  wisdom  and  impartial  goodness,  has  opened  a  medium 
to  every  intelligent  and  rational  mind,  through  which,  if  it 
willingly  improves  the  means  afforded,  every  truth  necessary 
to  be  known  in  the  way  of  its  salvation  will  be  manifested ; 
but  if  they  are  neglected  and  turned  from,  although  doctrines 
may  be  delivered  with  all  the  clearness  of  evidence  that  Divine 
wisdom  and  goodness  may  see  meet  to  unfold,  yet  such  will 
cavil  and  call  for  more  clear  evidence.  As  they  disregard  the 
evidence  of  Divirje  truth  in  their  own  minds,  so  neither  will 
they  regard  any  other  evidence.  This  was  abundantly  evident 
in  regard  to  the  doctrines  and  miracles  of  the  Saviour  when 
manifested  in  the  figure..  For  although  he  preached  doctrines 
and  wrought  miracles,  greater  and  more  excellent  than  any 
other  ever  had  done  on  earth,  yet  how  very  few  believed  on 
him. 

Now  I  do  not  conceive  that  the  reason  of  their  unbelief 
was  because  the  doctrines  delivered  were  not  sufficiently  elu- 
cidated, or  clothed  with  sufficient  evidence,  but  because  those 
who  heard  them  had  their  minds  pre-occupied,  with  principles 
and  doctrines  that  were  more  congenial  to  self  and  selfish 
views,  and  therefore  no  doctrine,  unless  it  could  be  brought  to 
correspond  with  theirs,  would  be  admitted  by  such  to  be  clearly 
unfolded ;  when,  at  the  same  time,  had  they  been  willing  to 
have  received  the  doctrine  with  the  elucidation  and  evidence 
wliich  accompanied  it,  it  would  then  have  been  sufficiently 
clear. 

That  this  disposition  is  tenfold  more  the  cause  of  the  unbe- 
lief of  mankind,  than  the  want  of  evidence  or  clear  elucidation 

6 


42  LETTER    TO 

attending  the  rightly  commissioned  servants  of  the  Lord  in 
opening  doctrine  to  the  people,  in  every  age  of  the  world,  I 
cannot  doubt ;  and  this,  I  conceive,  is  fully  evinced  by  the  suf- 
ferings and  persecutions,  that  the  faithful  in  all  ages  have  had 
to  pass  through.  For.  as  man,  in  his  fallen  state,  is  in  every 
age  the  same,  therefore  the  doctrines  of  trutli  are  ever  opposed 
to  him,  and  he  to  them  ;  but  as  soon  as  he  is  brought  to  see  his 
wretched  condition,  and,  under  a  sense  thereof,  sincerely  seeks 
for  salvation,  the  witness  for  God  in  his  own  heart  will  begin 
to  act^  then,  a  word  to  the  wise,  as  the  saying  is,  is  enough ; 
only  to  mention  a  subject,  however  new,  if  founded  in  truth, 
the  witness  for  truth  in  his  own  mind,  with  very  little  elucida- 
tion, will  immediately  assent  thereto.  But  if  the  mind  is  pre- 
occupied with  its  own  selfish  and  preconceived  principles, 
strongly  enforced  by  tradition,  and  in  which  man,  in  his  natu- 
ral state,  has  taken  up  a  rest,  such  will  not  be  convinced  of 
any  doctrines  that  run  counter  thereto,  until  they  are  first 
brought  to  feel  their  wretched  condition,  which  such  very 
rarely  do,  without  the  pressure  of  some  very  heavy  calamity 
or  sore  disappointment,  which  razes  their  superstructure  to  the 
very  foundation. 

Multiplied  testimonies  of  Scripture  might  be  brought  to 
prove  the  truth  of  this  doctrine,  but  I  will  mention  only  one 
to  close  these  observations  :  "  Go  unto  this  people  and  say, 
Hearing,  ye  shall  hear  and  shall  not  understand  ;  and  seeing, 
ye  shall  see  and  not  perceive:  for  the  heart  of  this  people  is 
waxed  g-ross  and  their  ears  are  dull  of  hearing-  and  their  eves 
have  they  closed,  lest  they  should  see  with  their  eyes  and  hear 
with  their  ears,"  &c.  Acts  xxviii.  26,  27.  This  I  conceive 
to  be  a  clear  description  of  the  states  and  conditions  I  have 
before  mentioned.  But  I  do  not  mention  these  things  to  pre- 
vent, in  any  degree,  a  right  care,  according  to  thy  remarks,  but 
only  to  show  that  when  that  has  been  all  done,  there  will  be 
cavillers  and  fault-finders  :  therefore  we  ought  to  be  careful 
not  to  blame  Ihe  speaker,  when  the  blame  may  be  altogether 
with  those  who  find  fault ;  and  that  not  because  they  do  not  see, 
but  because,  as  the  prophet  declares,  they  are  unwilling  to 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  43 

understand  or  perceive,  having  hardened  their  hearts  pre- 
viously against  the  witness  in  themselves ;  therefore  they  will 
not  receive  it  from  another,  but  will  be  making  objections 
merely  to  ward  off  the  truth,  rather  choosing  to  eat  their  own 
bread  and  wear  their  own  apparel,  and  clothe  themselves  with 
the  name  Christian,  only  to  take  away  the  reproach  of  men. 
And,  I  fear,  there  are  a  considerable  number  under  our  name 
of  this  description,  who  not  only  love  the  world,  but  also  its 
friendships,  manners,  maxims,  policies,  customs,  fashions,  vani- 
ties, pleasures  and  amusements,  yet  like  to  bear  the  name  of 
Gluaker,  because  it  has  become  honourable  among  men.  Alas  ! 
how  much  better  would  it  be  for  the  Society  and  the  promotion 
of  truth,  if  it  was  still  a  name  of  reproach. 

I  got  home  from  my  western  journey  the  19th  of  last  month, 
found  my  family  in  usual  health,  to  our  mutual  comfort,  and 
with  a  thankful  heart  and  a  peaceful  mind,  which  I  attributed 
to  the  goodness  and  mercy  of  Israel's  bountiful  Shepherd. 

With  love  to  thyself  and  family,  and  Friends  in  thy  neigh- 
bourhood, I  subscribe  thy  friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    PHEBE    WILLIS. 

Dear  Feiend,  Jericho,  5th  mo.  I9th,  1919. 

Thy  acceptable  epistle  I  have  perused,  and  believing  it  to  be 
the  producUof  real  friendship,  it  was  gratefully  received,  and 
the  language  it  utters  would,  not  many  years  since,  have  been 
my  own.  But  having  for  a  considerable  time  past  found  from 
full  conviction,  that  there  is  scarcely  any  thing  so  baneful  to 
the  present  and  future  happiness  and  welfare  of  mankind,  as 
a  submission  to  tradition  and  popular  opinion,  I  have  there- 
fore been  led  to  see  the  necessity  of  investigating  for  myself  all 
customs  and  doctrines,  whether  of  a  moral  or  of  a  religious 
nature,  either  verbally  or  historically  communicated,  by  the 
greatest  and  best  of  men  or  angels,  and  not  to  sit  down  satis- 
fied with  any  thing  but  the  plain,  clear,  demonstrative  testi- 
mony of  the  spirit  and  word  of  life  and  light  in  my  own 
heart  and  conscience  ;  and  which  has  led  me  to  see  how  very 
far  all  the  professors  of  Christianity  are  from  the  real  spirit 


44  LETTER    TO 

and  substance  of  the  Gospel.  And  among  otlier  subjects,  I 
have  been  led,  I  trust,  carefully  and  candidly,  to  investigate 
the  effects  produced  by  the  book  called  the  Scriptures  since  it 
has  borne  that  appellation ;  and  it  appears,  from  a  comparative 
view,  to  have  been  the  cause  of  four-fold  more  harm  than  good 
to  Christendom,*  since  the  apostles'  days,  and  which,  I  think, 
must  be  indubitably  plain  to  every  faithful,  honest  mind,  that 

*  Phebe  Willis  was  a  near  neighbour  of  Elias  Hicks,  with  whom  he  was  in 
habits  of  frequent  social  intercourse,  and  with  whom  he  had  often  conversed  on 
the  subjects  embraced  in  this  letter,  and,  on  this  account,  it  is  probable  he  was  not 
so  particular  in  explaining  his  views,  as  doubtless  he  would  have  been,  if  he  had 
expected  it  would  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  strangers,  or  been  made  public. 
This  will  apply  to  what  he  says  when  speaking  of  the  Scriptures,  that  they  "have 
been  the  cause  of  fourfold  more  harm  than  good  to  Christendom."  This  sentence 
is  explained,  and  we  trust  satisfactorily,  in  his  letter  to  Moses  Brown.  See 
page  171. 

It  was,  no  doubt,  the  improper  use  of  the  Scriptures,  and  not  any  objection 
that  E.  H.  had  to  the  writings  themselves,  that  induced  him  to  believe  they  had 
done  more  harm  than  good.  This  is  evident  from  the  whole  scope  of  the  letter, 
and  more  particularly  from  the  paragraph  (page  49)  beginning,  "  But  my  views 
respecting  the  Scriptures,  are  not  altered,  although  thus  abused  by  others,"  &c. 
And  however  some  may  think  he  has  overrated  the  evil  consequences  arising  from 
the  perversion  of  them,  we  find  some  of  our  early  Friends  bearing  as  strong  a  tes- 
timony against  their  improper  use  as  E.  H.  Samuel  Fisher,  one  of  the  most  emi- 
nent of  George  Fox's  early  contemporaries,  in  reply  to  the  celebrated  John  Owen, 
thus  reprehends  the  idolatry  of  exalting  the  Scriptures  above  their  proper  place, 
and  thus  diminutively  speaks  of  them  when  brought  in  competition  with  "the 
word  of  life  itself,"  ihe  only  sure  rule  of  faith  and  practice:  "  So,  then,  as  to  evince 
it  that  I  am  none  of  those  idiots  that  idolize  any  mere  men's  writings,  as  many  do 
the  unskilful  scribblings  of  their  scribes  for  the  Scriptures,  Httle  less  than  Israel  did 
the  golden  calves,  after  which  they  dotingly  ran  from  God  himself,  saying  of  these 
images  in  their  own  imaginations.  'These  are  thy  gods,'  &c.  Nar  yet  any  mere 
writings  of  those  holy  men  that  wrote  the  Holy  Scripture  itself,  as  most  of  our  misty 
ministers  and  their  people  do,  because  they  were  written  by  Divine  inspiration,  little 
less  than  Israel  did  the  brazen  serpent,  because  it  was  hung  up  by  Divine  institution  : 
I  shall  first  take  occasion  to  thrust  down  that  enthroned  calf  of  thy  anti-scriptural 
tribulary,  treatises,  thesis,  and  atheological  thoughts  upon  the  Scripture,  from  that 
high  place  it  hath  in  the  thoughts  of  such  as  fall  down  before  it,  as  Moses  threw 
down  that  molten  image,  (which  the  high  priest  made,  and  ignorant  people  made  a 
god  of,)  and  stamped  it  to  powder.  And  secondly,  as  Hezekiah,  not  without  God's 
own  approbation,  took  down  the  brazen  serpent,  which  had  its  being,  (as  the  Holy 
Scripture  itself  had)  not  without  God's  own  appointment,  when  once  men  began 
to  do  homage  to  it,  and  called  it  more  than  Nehushtan,  that  is,  a  piece  of  brass, 
that  they  might  know  it  was  no  God:  so  shall  I  take  down  the  dead  corpse,  and 
bare  carcase,  of  the  best  copy  of  the  Scripture,  since  men  begin  lo  go  a  whoring 
after  it  from  God  and  Christ,  and  the  Word  of  Life  itself,  out  of  that  high  and  stately 
throne  wherein  thou,  J.  Owen,  stalest  it." — Sain' I.  Msher's  Woi-ks,  pp.  239,  .440. 


PHEBE    WILLIS.  45 

has  investigated  her  history  free  from  the  undue  bias  of  edu- 
cation and  tradition.  Mark  the  beginning  of  the  apostacy. 
When  the  professors  of  Christianity  began  to  quarrel  with 
and  separate  from  each  other,  it  all  sprang  from  their  dilfer- 
ent  views  and  diflerent  interpretations  of  passages  of  Scrip- 
ture, and  to  such  a  pitch  did  their  quarrels  arise,  as  that  a 
recurrence  to  the  sword  was  soon  deemed  necessary  to  settle 
those  disputes.  And  the  strongest  party  in  that  line,  finding 
that  as  long  as  the  people  were  at  liberty,  and  had  the  privilege 
of  searching  the  Scriptures  and  putting  their  own  interpreta- 
tions upon  them,  and  making  them  their  rule,  diversity  of  opin- 
ion and  differences  would  increase,  this  led  the  strongest  party 
to  that  disagreeable  and  unchristian  alternative  of  wresting 
them  out  of  their  hands  and  forbidding  their  being  read  by  the 
people  at  large.  And  this  state  of  things  continued  for  many 
years,  until  the  beginning  of  reformation  by  Martin  Luther. 

It  will  be  now  necessary  to  consider,  whether  the  Scrip- 
tures were  in  any  Avise  accessary  to  this  infant  beginning  of 
reformation  ?  I  think  it  is  clear  they  were  not ;  but  as  Lu- 
ther and  his  adherents  gained  strength,  they  began  to  shake 
off  the  yoke  of  papal  oppression,  and,  among  other  things,  the 
restriction  on  the  Scriptures  was  taken  off,  and  every  citizen 
that  joined  Luther's  party,  had  the  privilege  of  reading  the 
Scriptures  at  his  pleasure.  And  what  was  the  result  ?  A 
diversity  of  sentiment,  respecting  what  they  taught,  which 
soon  set  the  reformers  one  against  another,  and  produced  such 
divisions  and  animosities  among  them,  that  recourse  was 
again  had  to  the  sword  to  settle  disputes,  hi  this  condition 
things  continued  until  George  Fox  was  raised  up  to  bear  tes- 
timony to  the  light  and  spirit  of  truth  in  the  hearts  and  con- 
sciences of  men  and  women,  as  the  only  sure  rule  of  faith  and 
practice,  both  in  relation  to  religious  and  moral  things,  and 
which  was  complete  and  sufficient,  without  the  aid  of  books 
or  men,  as  his  doctrine  and  example  clearly  evinces  ;  as  his 
reformation  was  begun  and  carried  on  without  the  necessary 
aid  of  either.  But,  as  the  professors  of  Christianity  then  held 
the  Scriptures,  or  their  interpretations  of  them,  as  their  chief 
idol, and  [as]  such  was  their  veneration  for  them,  that  for  anyone 


46  LETTER    TO 

to  hold  up  any  thing  else  as  a  rule,  he  was  immediately  pro- 
nounced a  heretic  or  schismatic,  and  not  fit  to  company  or 
associate  with  in  any  way,  this  led  George  and  his  friends 
to  show,  that  their  doctrines  were  in  nowise  derogatory  to 
those  written  by  those  who  were  inspired  by  the  same  spirit  in 
former  days.  And  all  goes  to  prove,  that  every  step  of  reforma- 
tion from  the  fall,  in  every  ao;e  of  the  world,  has  been  begim 
and  best  carried  on  when  the  reformers  kept  close  to  the  lead- 
ing and  inspiration  of  the  spirit  of  truth,  and  sufiered  nothing, 
whether  books  or  men,  to  turn  them  aside  from  their  ever-pre- 
sent and  ever-blessed  sure  guide ;  seeing  they  have  the  Anoint- 
ing to  be  their  teacher,  and  the  Spiritual  Lamb  to  be  their  light. 
And,  I  conceive,  every  man  and  woman,  who  has  a  right 
understanding  and  correct  ideas  of  the  Divine  character,  must 
have  the  same  views ;  for  otherwise  they  must  contradict  their 
own  professions,  as  every  one  who  believes  in  the  existence  of 
God,  attributes  to  him  justice,  mercy,  and  love,  and  that  he  is 
unchangeable  in  his  nature,  and  incapable  of  partiality ; 
hence  he  must,  and  no  doubt  has,  given  to  every  man  and 
woman,  a  comj^lete  and  sufficient  rule  of  faith  and  practice, 
without  the  aid  of  books  or  men  ;  and  hath  so  ordered  in  the 
course  of  events,  that  the  more  strictly  and  faithfully  every 
man  and  woman  lives  up  to  the  guidance  and  teaching  of 
this  inward  anointing,  and  never  turns  aside  to  the  right  hand 
or  to  the  left,  for  the  precepts  and  traditions  of  men,  the  more 
instruction  and  help  they  afford  one  another.  And  to  suppose 
a  written  rule  to  be  necessary,  or  much  useful,  is  to  impeach  the 
Divine  character,  and  charge  the  infinite  Jehovah  with  par- 
tiality-and  injustice,  as  the  greater  part  of  his  rational  creation 
have  never  been  furnished  with  those  means.  And  had  they 
been  needful,  he  certainly  would,  in  order  to  deal  with  an  even 
hand  of  justice,  have  fiirnished  all  his  rational  creatures  with 
them;  as  it  was  equally  in  his  power  so  to  have  done  from  the 
beginning.  But  as  man's  fall  principally  consists  in  his  turn- 
ing from  his  inward  spiritual  guide,  to  the  direction  of  his  out- 
ward senses  and  animal  passions  and  affections,  so  [man  having 
so  far  departed]  tliat  he  lost  almost  all  right  knowledge  of 


PHEBE    "WILLIS.  47 

this  inward  giiide,  the  Lord  in  mercy  dispensed  to  him  divers 
outward  manifestations,  as  a  means  to  lead  his  attention  back 
to  his  spiritual  guide ;  and  these  means  have  always  been  suited 
to  the  states  of  those  to  whom  they  were  dispensed,  and  there- 
fore often  very  different  to  different  nations  and  people.  To 
the  family  of  Abraham  he  dispensed  a  v^ery  peculiar  system"  of 
rituals  and  outward  shadows,  to  which  he  required  obedience, 
in  order  to  bring  them  back  to  a  submission  to  his  will,  as 
manifested  by  his  Spirit  in  their  hearts.  But  he  dispensed 
them  to  no  other  people  but  to  Israel,  and  those  that  came  of 
their  own  accord  and  joined  them  ;  and  as  soon  as  the  effect 
was  produced  by  bringing  them  back  to  their  inward  guide, 
all  those  outward  means  became  obsolete  and  useless.  So 
likewise  he  made  use  of  the  ministry  of  Jesus  Christ  and  his 
apostles  for  the  same  end,  to  turn  from  darlaiess  to  the  inward 
light,  and  when  that  was  effected,  their  ministry  had  done  all 
it  could  do,  and  to  such,  as  they  continued  to  walk  in  the 
light,  their  doctrine  became  obsolete  and  useless.  And  so  in 
every  age  where  any  real  reformation  has  been  produced,  it 
has  always  been  by  instruments  newly  raised  u-ji,  by  the  im- 
mediate operation  of  the  spirit.  And  where  any  people  have 
depended  upon  what  has  been  written  to  former  generations, 
such  make  no  advancement,  but  just  sit  down  in  the  labours 
of  their  forefathers,  and  soon  become  dry  and  formal,  and  fall 
behind  those  they  are  copying  after  or  propose  to  follow. 

This  is  very  manifestly  the  case  with  our  Society,  although 
so  highly  favoured  with  almost  every  possible  means  to  gather 
them  from  all  outwards,  to  their  true  inward  teacher,  who 
teaches  as  ncA^er  man  taught — nothing  but  the  truth.  And 
this  is  the  cause  why  many  turn  from  him,  to  the  teachings 
of  men  or  books,  because  they  can  mostly  turn  their  teachings 
to  suit  their  own  ends;  hence  plain  truth  is  disagreeable  to 
them,  but  teachings  that  they  can  interpret  to  suit  their  own 
inclinations,  as  most  men  do  the  Scriptures,  these  they  cr^'  up 
and  speak  highly  of  And  such  as  these  cause  all  the  ani- 
mosities and  divisions  in  Christendom,  and  from  hence  most 
of  their  quarrels  and  wars  have  arisen.     And  there  is  great 


4S  LETTER    TO 

cause  to  fear,  that  if  those  in  our  Society,  who  are  united 
with  those  among  others,  in  very  improperly  setting  up  the 
Scriptures  above  their  true  value,  are  adhered  to,  they  will 
finally  divide  and  scatter  us,  as  they  have  all  other  professors 
of  Christianity.  For  considerable  disputes  have  already  arisen 
concerning  passages  of  the  first  im]iortance.  I  M'ill  mention 
one  wherein  the  very  leaders  are  divided.  And  surely  if  it  is 
so  wrapt  up  in  mystery  that  we  cannot  understand  it  alike, 
how  much  better  should  we  be  without  it.  It  is  Peter's  tes- 
timony concerning  the  more  sure  word  of  prophecy,  which 
many  of  those  considered  as  the  most  wise  and  learned 
amongst  us,  tell  us  is  the  Scriptures.  And  should  I  be  by 
these  convinced  that  Peter  really  meant  tlie  Scriptures,  it 
would,  to  me,  render  all  his  writings  as  unworthy  much 
attention.  And  I  have  no  kind  of  doubt  if  Friends  generally. 
of  the  foremost  ranks,  should  honestly  and  plainly  speak  their 
sentiments  on  the  Scriptures  in  general,  so  great  would  be 
their  diversity  of  prospects,  that  little  help  or  edification,  in  a 
society  capacity,  could  be  derived  from  them ;  and  it  is  alto- 
gether reasonable  it  should  be  so  in  the  dispensings  of  a  wise 
Providence,  seemg,  as  we  have  the  Scriptures  at  our  com- 
mand, that  if  there  was  sufficiency  in  them  to  point  the  way 
to  Heaven,  we  might  then  by  our  own  strength  and  labour 
arrive  at  that  happy  place  and  outstrip  the  vsons  of  Noah. 
But  the  all-wise  Jehovah,  who  hath  declared  that  he  will  not 
give  his  glory  to  another,  nor  his  praise  to  graven  images, 
hath  also  decreed,  that  should  all  the  various  professors  of 
Ciiristianity  associate  aiid  bind  themselves  together,  by  the 
strongest  ties  that  lie  within  the  reach  of  human  contrivance, 
to  circulate  the  Scriptures  in  their  own  will  and  wisdom,  or  pur- 
sue any  other  means  or  method  to  promote  the  spiritual  inter- 
est of  immortal  souls,  it  will  all  prove  abortive,  and  confusion 
of  language,  if  not  in  a  natural,  yet  in  a  spiritual  sense,  will 
be  their  portion  :  for,  in  my  view,  there  has  no  event  tran- 
spired since  the  building  of  the  Babel  Tower,  on  Shinar's 
plain,  that  is  so  fully  representative  thereof,  as  the  multiplied 
Bible  societies  of  the  present  day. 


PHEBE    WILLIS.  49 

But  my  views  respecting-  the  Scriptures  are  not  altered, 
although  thus  abused  by  others,  and  trust  I  shall,  as  I  here- 
tofore have  done,  as  my  mind  is  opened  to  it,  call  upon  them 
as  evidence  to  the  truth  of  inspiration  ;  and  to  show  that  the 
upright  and  faithful  in  former  ages,  were  led  and  instructed 
by  the  same  spirit  as  those  in  the  present  day ;  and  that  the 
Lord  is  graciously  willing  to  reveal  himself  as  fully  to  the 
children  of  men  in  this  day  as  in  any  day  of  the  world,  with- 
out respect  of  persons,  as  each  is  attentive  to  his  inward  and 
spiritual  manifestations.  And  how  nmch  more  reasonable  it 
is  to  suppose,  that  an  inspired  teacher  in  the  present  day, 
sliould  be  led  to  speak  more  truly  and  plainly  to  the  states  of 
the  people^  to  whom  he  is  led  to  communicate,  than  any  doc- 
trines that  were  delivered  one  thousand  seven  hundred  years 
ago  to  a  people  very  differently  circmnstanced  to  those  in  this 
day,  I  leave  to  every  rational  mind  to  judge.  And  that  the 
doctrines  of  George  Fox  and  our  primitive  Friends,  should  be 
easier  understood,  and  plainer,  being  written  in  our  own  lan- 
guage, than  the  doctrines  of  the  primitive  Cliristians,  appears 
very  reasonable.  But  we  are  all,  or  have  been,  so  bound  down 
by  tradition,  being  taught  from  the  cradle  to  venerate  the 
Scriptures,  and  people  generally  considering  them  so  sacred  as 
not  to  be  investigated,  but  bound  to  receive  them  asAv^e  have  been 
taught ;  hence  we  have  all  been  more  or  less,  dupes  to  tradition 
and  error.  I  well  remember  how  oft  my  conscience  has  smitten 
me  when  I  have  been  endeavouring  to  support  the  society's 
belief  of  the  Scriptures,*  that  they  so  very  far  excelled  all  other 
writings,  that  the  fear  of  man  had  too  great  a  share  in  leading 
me  to  adopt  the  sentiment,  and  custom  rendered  it  more  easy, 
but  I  never  was  clear  in  my  own  mind  as  to  that  point ;  and 
had  I  carefully  attended  to  my  own  feelings,  I  should  have  been 


*  From  what  we  have  heard  Elias  Hicks  say  on  this  subject,  as  well  as  from 
what  is  to  be  found  in  his  writings  and  printed  discourses,  we  think  he  would 
have  expressed  his  views  more  correctly  on  this  point,  if,  instead  of  saying,  "  the 
Society's  belief^"  he  had  said,  the  belief  of  some  in  the  Socicii/.  We  think  however 
the  closing  paragraph  in  his  letter  is  a  sufficient  apology  to  every  liberal  mind  for 
any  inaccuracies  which  may  be  found  in  it. 

r 


50  LETTER    TO 

preserved,  I  believe,  in  a  line  of  more  consistency  in  that 
respect.  And  I  may  now  acknowledge  to  thee,  that  I  never  ex- 
pressed my  own  genuine  feelings  and  prospects  so  clearly,  and 
so  much  to  the  peace  of  my  own  mind,  as  in  our  last  quarterly 
meeting;  and  indeed  such  was  the  view  T  had,  and  the  clearness 
of  the  opening,  that  I  apprehended  there  could  not  have  been 
a  rational  mind  present,  acquainted  with  the  subjects  of  my 
conununication,  but  would  have  assented  thereto.  Much 
more  might  be  said  in  proof  of  the  foregoing,  but  my  time 
and  leisure  will  not  reasonably  admit  me  to  proceed  further. 
And  what  I  have  written  has  been  done  in  scraps  of  tinie., 
that  I  have  as  it  were  stolen  from  my  other  many  avocations, 
without  any  time  to  copy  it,  or  give  it  'much  examination  ; 
therefore,  I  hope  thou  xcilt  excuse  the  improprieties  that  may 
have  escaped  my  notice,  believing-  that  thou  wilt  be  able  to 
apprehend  the  main  drift  of  the  arguments,  and  be  ivilling 
to  put  the  best  consti'uction  on  such  parts  as  may,  to  thee, 
appear  erroneous.    Thy  assured  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM   POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  \Wi  mo.  28,  1819. 
Dear  Friend, 

Thy  acceptable  letter  of  the  Sth  instant  was  duly  received, 
and  its  various  parts  afforded  particular  satisfaction.  I  was 
much  pleased  with  the  account  from  Baltimore,  as  I  had.  at 
different  times,  taken  much  interest  in  the  unhappy  difficulties 
between  those  two  monthly  meetings ;  and  had  made  use  of 
my  best  endeavours  for  the  settlement  thereof. 

It  wafe  pleasing  to  find,  that  thou  and  thy  wife  contemplated 
a  visit  to  us,  in  the  course  of  the  ensuing  year,  if  way  should 
open  for  it.  If  I  should  live  to  see  it  brought  into  eficct,  it 
would  be  truly  grateful.  Thy  freedom  on  some  points  of  doc- 
trine advanced  by  me.  was  also  pleasing,  as  I  am  established 


WILLIAM  B.   IRISH.  51 

in  the  sentiment,  that  truth  never  loses  by  close  investigation, 
but  rises  thereby  more  bright  and  clear. 

I  have  often  thought,  that  nothing  more  sullies  and  degrades 
the  scriptures  of  truth,  than  the  fears  that  many  of  their  advo- 
cates manifest,  in  regard  to  the  investigation  of  them,  and 
insisting  upon  their  being  taken  and  believed  literally  just  as 
they  are,  whether  consonant  witli  reason,  yea  or  nay. 

That  book  that  will  not  bear  the  test  of  all  the  investigation 
that  the  human  mind  is  capable  of  going  into,  and  stiil  rise 
superior  to  all  the  cavils  and  false,  insinuatibns  that  may  be 
cast  upon  it,  cannot  be  of  much  use  to  mankind. 

The  letters  thou  alludes  to,  that  I  read  at  thj  house,  from  St. 
Domingo,  I  have  put  in  a  friend's  liand  for  printing  ;  but 
whether  they  are  to  be  printed  in  a  pamphlet  or  a  newspaper,  is 
yet  uncertain,  but  let  it  be  which  it  may,  I  will  endeavour  to 
furnish  thee  with  a  copy. 

Thy  affectionate  friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO   WILLIAM    B.    IRISH. 

Jericho,  Isl.  mn.  Volh,  1820. 

Thine  of  the  4th  inst.  came  duly  to  hand  and  was  very 
acceptable.  Thy  object  in  writing  as  it  regards  thy  religious 
queries,  attracted  my  attention,  and  altliough  thou  assures  me 
that,  from  present  appearances,  thou  wilt  never  become  a 
Quaker  or  Friend,  yet,  I  apprehend,  that  which  induced  thee 
to  drop  tlie  sentiment  is  a  favourable  omen,  and  leads  me  to 
hope,  that  if  thou  attendest  faithfully  to  that  which  has  begun 
a  good  work  on  thy  vision,  and  has  enabled  thee  to  "see  men 
as  trees  walking,"  and  shown  thee  the  baneful  effects  of  the  pre- 
judice of  education,  and  how  mightily  tradition  and  custom 
tyrannize  over  the  human  mind,  and  bind  it  down  as  with  fet- 
ters of  iron,  too  strong  for  reason  alone  to  rend  asunder,  and 
set  the  captive  soul  free  ; — I  say,if  thou  willingly  and  patiently 

i 


52  LETTER    To 

adlieres  to  that  which  has  begun  a  good  work  in  thee,  by  show- 
ing thee  the  difference  between  things  that  differ,  I  not  only- 
feel  a  hope  (although  it  will  be  through  deep  inward  suffer- 
ings and  the  cross,  as  none  can  become  real  Christians,  or 
Quakers,  without  it,)  that  thou  wilt  yet  become  a  Quaker,  or 
Christian,  wliich  are  one,  and,  I  trust  and  hope,  a  good  one." 
But  to  come  to  this  happy  experience,  depends  very  much  on 
thyself,  for  if  thou  willingly  surrenders  thyself  as  an  offering 
to  God,  to  do  his  will,  as  by  the  light  in  thy  own  heart  and 
conscience  he  is  pleased  to  manifest  it  to  thee,  thy  understand- 
ing will  be  more  and  more  opened  into  those  things  that  con- 
cern thy  present  and  everlasting  peace. 

I  do  not  admire  at  the  difficulties  thou  hast  had  to  encoun- 
ter, in  regard  to  the  mode  of  redemption  generally  held  by 
professing  Christians,  as  being  effected  by  the  death,  or  outward 
dying  of  Jesus  Christ,  on  the  outward  wooden  cross.  This, 
as  it  regards  the  redemption  of  the  immortal  soul  from  the 
bondage  of  sin,  I  consider  a  vulgar  error,  that  came  in  with 
the  apostacy  from  primitive  Christianity.  The  redemption 
effected  by  the  outward  oflering  could  only,  according  to  the 
true  analogy  of  things,  be  a  redemption  of  outward  bodies. 
For  under  that  legal  dispensation,  there  were  many  legal  insti- 
tutes that  were  binding  upon  the  people  of  Israel  and  on  no 
other  people,  and  a  breach  of  these  produced  legal  crimes,  to 
which  penalties  were  annexed,  and  these  were  inflicted  on  the 
bodies  of  the  Israelites.  Now  I  consider  that  the  offering  of 
the  body  of  Jesus  Christ  on  the  outward  cross,  applied  only, 
as  a  matter  of  redemption,  to  the  Israelites,  redeeming  them 
from  the  curse  of  that  covenant,  and  the  penalties  attendant 
on  any  breach  thereof ;  and  this  redemption  was  the  top  stone 
of  that  figurative  dispensation,  as  by  it  that  dispensation, 
with  all  its  legal  rites  and  ceremonies,  was  abolished  and 
done  away.  Hence  the  Jews  could  no  longer  be  guilty  of 
any  of  those  legal  crimes,  as  the  law  that  required  those 
rites  was  dead  and  done  away,  by  the  outward  death  of  their 

•  W.  B.  I.  not  long  afterwards  became  a  member  of  the  Society. 

I 


WILLIAM  B.  IRISH. 


53 


Messiah :  And  this  outward  redemption  of  the  outward  bodies 
of  the  Israelites,  from  the  penahies  of  their  outward  laAv,  is  a 
complete  figure  of  the  inward  redemption  of  the  soul  from  sin, 
by  the  life^  or  spiritual  blood  of  Christ,  inwardly  sprinkling 
our  consciences,  and  thereby  enabling  us  to  die  to  sin  as  he 
died  for  sin  ;  by  which  we  are  redeemed  from  dead  works,  to 
serve  the  living  God  in  ncAvness  of  life,  which  makes,  and 
alone  can  make,  the  true  Christian. 

Why  should  thou  think  it  cruel  or  painful,  that  God  sent 
his  son  into  the  world,  and  when  in  the  world  permitted  him 
to  suffer  death  by  the  hands  of  wicked  men,  when  history 
informs  us,  that  many  thousands  of  righteous  men  and 
women  have,  by  the  permission  of  the  Almighty,  been  perse- 
cuted to  death  by  wicked  men  ?  Yet,  nevertheless,  we  do  not 
believe  that  God  sent  any  of  these  into  the  world  'purjwsely 
to  suffer  death  in  the  cruel  way  they  did,  by  the  poM^er  of  the 
wicked ;  neither  do  I  believe  that  God  sent  Jesus  Christ  into 
the  world  purposely  to  suffer  death,  in  the  way  he  did,  any 
more  than  all  these.  For  I  do  not  believe  that  God  created 
any  rational  being  and  sent  him  into  the  world  to  suffer 
death  for  other  men,  because  they  were  wicked  and  he  was 
righteous,  but  that  it  was  the  righteousness  of  all  these, 
that  aggravated  the  wicked,  and  was  the  procuring  cause  of 
their  hatred  and  vengeance  towards  them,  when  they  cruelly 
persecuted  them  to  death.  But  their  suffering  was  entirely 
opposite  to  and  inconsistent  wuth  the  purpose  and  will  of 
God ;  for  if  it  Viras  not,  the  perpetrators  of  those  dreadful 
crimes  and  most  atrocious  deeds,  would  all  stand  justified  in 
his  sight.  Hence  we  clearly  see  that  all  those  kinds  of  doc- 
trines that  naturally  and  necessarily  impeach  the  all-good  and 
all-gracious  Jehovah  with  apparent  cruelty  and  incorrectness 
in  his  purposes  and  designs,  concerning  his  rational  creation, 
are  founded  on,  and  have  their  origin  in,  that  false  and  incon- 
sistent doctrine  of  predestination  and  election,  which  ought  to 
be  exploded  by  every  rational  being,  as  it  destroys  all  the 
nobility  and  excellence  of  God's  rational  creation,  and  places 
them  below  the  poorest  animal  on- earth. 


54  LETTER    TO 

I  believe  that  the  Almighty  Creator  of  the  universe,  had  but 
one  sole  purpose  and  design  in  creating  man,  and  placing  him 
on  this  terraqueous  globe ;  and  that  was  to  do  his  will,  and 
thereby  to  continue  in  a  happy  state  of  union  and  communion 
with  him,  through  the  spirit  ;  and  he  has  so  ordered  and 
arranged  all  things  here  on  earth,  in  his  wisdom  and  good- 
ness, as  to  constitute  a  state  of  probation  to  man,  during  his 
militant,  state,  or  while  his  inunortal  spirit  continues  in  con- 
nexion with  these  mortal  bodies,  which  are  not  to  contiime 
any  longer  in  existence,  than  during  the  time  of  this  proba- 
tionary scene,  which  was  necessary  to  give  the  rational  intel- 
ligent creature,  man,  a  fit  opportunity  to  rise  above  that  inno- 
cent state  in  which  he  was  created,  to  the  exalted  state  of 
virtue  and  glory,  by  a  just  and  righteous  improvement  of  the 
liberty  and  power  conferred  upon  him  by  his  gracious  Creator 
for  that  purpose,  and  that  purpose  only,  agreeably  to  the 
instruction  of  Divine  Wisdom.  Hence  we  conclude  that 
God  never  sent  his  son  Jesus  Christ,  nor  any  of  his  rational 
creation,  into  the  world,  ■purposely  to  suffer  death  by  cruel 
men  ;  but  only,  in  his  own  free  and  voluntary  choice,  to 
attend  to  and  do  his  holy  will  in  all  tilings,  and  thereby  glo- 
rify and  enjoy  him ;  which  all  agree  to  be  the  chief  end  and 
design  of  man's  creation. 

Therefore,  all  the  persecution  and  cruel  deaths  that  have 
transpired  in  the  world  among  mankind ;  not  only  the  perse- 
cution and  crucifixion  of  Jesus  Christ ;  but  also,  all  the  suf- 
fering and  martyrdom  caused  by  wicked  men,  have  had 
their  rise  and  spring  from  man's  unjust  and  unrighteous  use 
of  his  liberty  and  power,  conferred  upon  him  only  to  do  his 
Maker's  will  in  all  things. 

But  the  sequel,  as  well  as  the  very  reason  of  things,  clearly 
shows,  that  man,  in  his  probationary  state,  was  possessed  of  a 
power  and  liberty  (uncontrolled  by  any  other  power)  to  do  his 
Maker's  will,  by  his  instruction  and  aid,  which  was  fully 
offered  to  his  acceptance,  or  not  to  do  it,  if  he  chose  to  comply 
with  temptation:  as  he  had  communicated  to  him,  by  his 
Maker,  a  power  of  entire  free  choice.     For  if  this  was  not  the 


"WILLIAM  B.  IRISH.  55 

case,  he  could  never  liave  been  virtuous  or  wicked,  as  all 
virtue  consists  in  his  choosing:  the  Sfood,  and  all  sin  in  his 
choosing  the  evil,  independent  of  any  other  cause  but  his  own 
choice.  And,  no  doubt,  had  the  Israelites  all  been  faithful  to 
that  outward  covenant  given  them  through  Moses,  they  would 
all  have  been  prepared  to  have  received  their  Messiah  in  the 
way  of  his  coming,  as  did  those  that  believed  on  him,  and  by 
which  the  end  of  his  coming  would  have  been  much  more 
fully  answered ;  as  all  Israel  then,  like  the  disciples  of  Jesus 
Christ,  would  willingly  have  passed  from  the  old,  and  cheer- 
folly  entered  into  the  new  dispensation.  Hence  no  crucifixion. 
no  suffering  or  death  of  Jesus  Christ  would  have  taken  place  ; 
but  when  his  ministry  on  earth  was  finished,  by  fulfilling  the 
law  and  abolishing  that  outward  covenant,  and  turning  the 
minds  of  the  people  to  the  inward,  to  the  law  written  in  the 
heart,  and  when,  b^  a  life  of  perfect  righteousness  and  self- 
denial,  he  had  introduced  his  disciples  into  the  Gospel,  he 
Avould  then  have  been  (like  Enoch  and  Elijah)  translated, 
without  suffering  the  pains  of  death.  But  as  Divine  Wisdom 
foresaw,  that  his  people  Israel  would  revolt  from  his  command- 
ments, and  rebel  against  his  law,  and  become  cruel  and  hard- 
hearted ;  so  likewise  he  foresaw,  that  the  wicked  among  them 
would  cruelly  persecute  and  slay  many  of  the  righteous,  and 
his  son  Jesus  Christ  among  the  rest.  Therefore  he  inspired 
many  of  his  servants  to  testify  of  these  things  amongst  them, 
before  they  came  to  pass,  as  warning  and  caution,  that  so 
those  who  were  seeking  after  the  right  way,  might  be  pre- 
served from  taking  any  part  therein,  while  those  who  wilfully 
hardened  their  hearts  against  reproof,  might  suffer  the  penalties 
resulting  from  their  crimes,  which  they  had  committed  in  their 
own  free  choice,  contrary  to  the  counsel  and  will  of  their  Creator. 
The  doctrine  of  the  Trinity,  as  held  by  many  professing 
Christians,  I  also  consider  a  weak  and  vulgar  error :  that  of 
three  distinct  persons  in  one  God,  and  that  each  of  these 
persons  is  whole  God,  as,  I  think,  is  inserted  in  some  of  the 
confessions  of  faith.  As  I  believe  there  cannot  be  a  greater 
absurdity,  than  to  apply  personality  to  God,  in  any  right  sense 


56  LETTER    TO 

of  the  word,  as  personality  imi)lies  locality,  which  signifies, 
limited  to  place,  which  would  be  very  impious  to  say  of  the 
infinite  Jehovah.  It  is  also  a  doctrine  unwarranted  by  Scrip- 
ture, as  the  word  trinity  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  Bible :  for 
although  the  apostle  is  made  to  say,  agreeably  to  our  present 
translation,  that  there  are  three  that  bear  record  in  Heaven, 
yet  he  assures  us,  that  these  three  are  hut  one.  We  have  no 
certainty,  however,  that  they  have  given  us  the  apostle's 
sense  clearly,  as  we  have  no  reason  to  believe  the  translators 
were  inspired  men,  for  they  tell  us  that  inspiration  has  ceased. 
But  admitting  the  translation  to  be  correct,  yet  it  carries  in  it 
no  clear  evidence  of  any  such  doctrine,  as  we  ought  to  receive 
all  written  testimonials  according  to  their  most  easy,  natural, 
and  rational  sense,  and  especially  so,  when  they  in  any 
degree  contradict  other  and  more  plain  and  clear  testimonies 
of  as  hio-h,  or  hiof'her  orig-in.  There  was  nothinaf  more 
plainly,  nor  more  fully  impressed  upon  the  Israelites  by 
their  great  lawgiver,  than  to  acknowledge  but  one  God  ;  and 
although  they  often  asserted  that  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  came 
to  them,  or  was  upon  them,  yet  they  manifest  no  idea  of  any 
divisibility,  or  distinction  of  persons,  between  God  and  his 
spirit ;  but  wherever  the  holy  spirit  of  God  is,  there  is  God, 
and  where  God  is,  there  is  the  Holy  Spirit,  or  Holy  Ghost, 
which  are  one,  as  the  terms  are  synonymous ;  for  God  is  a 
spirit,  and  nothing  but  spirit.  And  when  this  Spirit,  or  God, 
acts  or  operates  on  the  spirit  of  man,  in  his  first  operations,  he 
quickens  and  enlightens  man's  spirit,  and  in  this  operation  he 
bears  record  of  his  own  life  in  the  soul  of  man,  as  the  Holy 
Spirit  or  Holy  Ghost,  and  as  the  spirit  of  man  yields  and 
submits  to  his  oj^eration,  there  is  a  birth  of  God  brought  forth 
m  the  soul  or  spirit  of  man,  and  by  which  he  now  bears  record 
of  his  own  life  in  the  soul  as  father,  and  this  birth  of  God  in 
the  soul,  being  begotten  by  God,  unites  in  record  or  witness, 
in  unity  with  God  as  son,  and  still  it  is  only  God,  working-  all 
in  all  in  the  soul,  agreeably  to  his  own  will  and  pleasure. 
And  which  agrees  with  the  doctrine  of  the  apostle,  where  he 
says,  that  it  is  God  that  worlceth  in  us,  both  to  will  and  to  do, 


Al'ILLIAM  B.   IRISH.  57 

of  his  own  good  pleasure.     And  again  :  "  For  as  many  as  are 
ed  by  the  spirit  of  God,  they  are  tlie  sons  of  God." 

As  to  John's  revelations,  they  are  some  of  that  apostle's 
ast  writings,  written  at  a  time  when  he  was  far  advanced 
ni  deep  experience  ;  and  we  find  that  the  most  deep  and 
mysterious  writings  of  the  prophets  and  apostles,  are  often 
couched  in  allegorical  similies :  therefore,  it  requires  our 
coming  to  the  same  experience,  rightly  to  comprehend  or 
understand  them ;  and  hence,  when  I  meet  with  parts  or 
passages  of  scripture  that  I  do  not  understand,  I  leave  them 
until  I  may  arrive  at  a  state  of  deeper  experience,  by  which 
means  I  have  come  clearly  to  comprehend  and  understand 
some  tilings,  that,  at  a  previous  time,  seemed  mysterious  to 
me ;  and  this,  I  have  no  doubt,  will  be  thy  case,  in  respect  to 
what  Paul  says  of  women  keeping  silence  in  the  churches, 
as  also  in  some  other  respects  ;  for  I  apprehend,  if  Paul  hath 
said  what  we  find  recorded  in  1st  Corinthians,  xiv.  34,  35, 
and  1st  Timothy,  ii.  11,  12,  that  he  had  no  aUusion  at  ail  to 
their  preaching  or  prophesying  in  the  churches  ;  and  if  he 
had,  we  have  no  right,  nor  reason,  at  all  to  admit  it  as  sound 
doctrine,  as  it  contradicts  a  number  more  of  his  own  'de- 
clarations on  that  point,  (as  also  the  general  testimony  of 
scripture,)  which  are  much  more  rational,  clear,  and  plain,  as 
may  be  seen  in  his  epistle  to  the  Romans,  xiv. ;  Philippians, 
iv.  3  ;  1st  Corinthians,  xi.  5 — 13 ;  and  Paul  assures  us,  that 
male  and  female  are  one  in  Christ,  that  is,  when  they  become 
real  Christians,  of  whom  Christ  is  the  head.  Also,  under 
the  law  there  were  prophetesses  as  well  as  prophets,  and  the 
effiision  of  tlie  spirit  in  the  latter  day,  as  prophesied  by  Joel, 
was  to  be  equally  on  sons  and  daugliters.  servants  and  hand- 
maids ;  and.  to  believe  otherwise,  is  irrational  and  inconsistent 
with  the  Divine  attributes,  and  would  charge  the  Almighty 
with  partitility  and  injustice  to  one-half  of  his  rational  creation. 
Therefore,  in  my  belief,  it  would  be  wrong  to  admit  it, 
although  asserted  in  the  most  plain  and  positive  manner  by 
men  or  angels. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


5g  LETTER   TO 


TO   WILLIAM   POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  3d  mo.  22d,  1820. 
Beloved  Friend, 

Thine,  of  the  28th  of  1st  month,  did  not  come  to  hand  until 
the  20th  instant,  and  although  long  on  the  way,  yet  when 
it  arrived  w^as  very  satisfactory,  except  the  accomit  of  thy 
rheumatic  complaint  and  lameness  in  thy  right  arm,  which 
excites  my  sympathy,  having  latterly  had  a  very  severe  turn 
of  my  old  complaint ;  but  I  am  again  restored  to  pretty  good 
health,  which  is  the  state  of  my  family  at  present. 

Our  valued  friend  and  neighbour.  Fry  Willis,  departed  this 
life  this  morning  about  five  o'clock.  He  was  in  apparent 
good  health  the  evenirig  before  last.  About  nine  o'clock,  he 
went  down  into  the  cellar  on  some  occasion,  and  fell  whilst 
there,  and  wounded  his  head  ;  and  when  found  was  incapable 
of  giving  any  a;ccount  how  it  happened ;  but  by  searching 
the  wound,  it  was  not  thought  sufficient  to  affect  him  in  the 
manner  he  was,  that  it  has  trf3come  the  opinion  he  had  a 
stroke  of  the  apoplexy.  He  continued  to  decline  until  his 
dissolution  took  place.  We  are  of  late  very  frequently  notified 
of  our  mortality,  and  the  uncertainty  of  time. 

Thou  seems  to  desire  my  opinion  on  the  trinity,  and  should 
I  add  to  that,  my  views  on  the  atonement  by  Jesus  Christ,  thou 
may  possibly  consider  me  very  officious  :  hoAvever,  as  I  have 
lately,  in  answer  to  a  request  from  an  acquaintance,  given 
partly,  if  not  altogether,  my  vicAvs  on  those  two  subjects,  I 
will  give  thee  an  abstract  from  my  letter  ;  take  it  as  follows  : 

[Here  follows  an  abstract  from  the  letter  to  W.  B.  Trish. 
See  page  44. J 

First  day  afternoon.  2d  of  4th  month,  a  snowy  stormy  day  ; 
it  began  snowing  about  11  this  morning,  and  has  been  snow- 
ing till  now — at  present  it  falls  quite  fast,  and  is  near  5  o'clock. 


AVILLIAM    POOLE.  59 

We  have  had  quite  cold  weather  for  several  days  past,  and  it 
is  not  only  cold  vvithout,  but  I  thought,  at  meeting  to-day,  it 
was  pretty  generally  cold  within,  as  we  had,  I  think,  a  pretty 
hard  and  silent  meeting;  but  I  do  not  murmur,  as  I  am  often 
comforted  in  believing,  that  we  are  much  more  favourably 
dealt  with  than  Ave  deserve  ;  and  thou  knowest  that  this  will 
keep  the  honest  above  repining  or  finding  fault,  hence  wo 
cannot  be  very  miserable  if  we  are  not  altogether  as  happy  as 
we  could  wish. 

My  wife  and  daughter  join  me  in  love  to  thee  and  thine,  in 
which  I  rest  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO   WILLIAM    POOLE,   WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  1th  mo.  23^,1820. 
Beloved  Friend, 

Thy  acceptable  letter  of  4th  month  last  came  duly  to  hand, 
and  although  the  answering  of  it  has  been  thus  long  procras- 
tinated, yet,  I  may  assure  thee,  it  has  not  been  occasioned  by 
forgetfulness,  or  a  lack  ot  warm  desires  about  me  at  trnies 
to  do  it ;  but  my  avocations,  since  receiving  it,  have  been 
so  many  and  various,  that  no  time  previous  to  the  present 
seemed  to  open  ;  and.  I  may  add,  the  incapacity  I  have  gene- 
rally felt  to  write  any  thing  that  would  be  in  any  degree 
edifying,  has  led  me  thus  to  put  off:  And  now  I  have  begun,  I 
see  but  little  more  than  just  to  acloiowledge  the  reception  of 
thy  letter,  and  the  satisfaction  I  had  in  the  perusal  of  it,  as 
corroborating  my  sentiments  fully. 

Thy  views  in  regard  to  many  professing  Christians,  con- 
sidering Heaven  as  a  located  place,  are  undoubtedly  correct ; 
for  surely  they  are  the  most  absurd  and  inconsistent :  and 
I  should  rejoice,  could  I  believe  that  the  members  of  our 
Society  were  all  redeemed  from  that  false  and  vulgar  idea. 
But  until  mankind  come  rightly  to  believe  in  the  inward 
light,  and  receive  it  as  a  redeeming  principle,  sufficient  for 


LETTER    TO 

their-  complete  salvation,  as  they  obey  it  in  all  its  manifesta- 
tions, they  cannot  have  any  just  and  correct  ideas  of  God,  or 
of  the  right  way  of  salvation,  and,  of  course,  must  remain  in 
igfnorance  as  to  those  thinsfs; 

For  what  was  declared  by  Jesus  Chi'ist  will  remain  an 
infallible  and  unchangeable  truth ;  that  "  no  man  knoweth 
wlio  the  Son  is,  but  the  Father ;  and  who  the  Father  is,  but 
the  Son,  and  he  to  whom  the  Son  will  reveal  him ;"  and  this 
Son,  according  to  John's  testimony,  which  testimony  is  truth, 
is  "  the  true  light  that  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into 
the  world" — and  this  light  was  the  divine  nature  that  dwelt 
in  the  man  Jesus  Christ,  and  in  whicli  he  was  one  with  his 
Father  :  so  that  he  could  say  in  truth,  "  I  and  my  Father  are 
one,"  for  "  he  that  is  joined  to  the  Lord,  is  one  spirit." 

I  may  also  add,  that  the  anticipation  of  a  visit  from  you,  as 
noted  in  some  of  thy  past  favours,  tended  somewhat  to  the 
procrastination  before  alluded  to,  as  hoping  to  speak  with  thee 
face  to  face ;  and  I  still  flatter  myself  with  the  hope,  that  I 
shall  not  be  wholly  disappointed. 

Witli  love  to  thee  and  thine,  I  conclude,  thy  affectionate 
friend.  ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM   POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  Sth  mo.  6l/i,  1820. 
Beloved  Friend, 

Thine,  of  the  2Sth  ultimo,  came  duly  to  hand,  and  was  very 
acceptable.  By  it  I  learn,  that  mine  of  last  month  had  not 
reached  thee.  This  induces  me  to  take  my  pen,  and,  with 
this  duplicate,  acknowledge  not  only  the  reception  of  thy  last, 
as  above,  but  also  the  one  previous.  I  was  glad  to  find  by  its 
contents,  that  my  views  on  the  two  subjects,  viz.,  the  Atone- 
ment, and  what  is  called  the  Trinity,  vrere  consonant  with 
thine. 

Thy  views  respecting  Heaven,  or  a  state  of  happiness,  like- 
wise perfectly  agree  with  mine.  Great,  and  fatal,  I  fear,  are 
the  errors  of  many,  on  this  important  point.     For  if  Heaven 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  61 

IS  a  ■place,  it  must  of  course  be  local,  and.  if  tliis  is  admitted, 
it  will  imply  locality  in  the  infinite  Jehovali,  as  Heaven  is  his 
place  of  abode.  But  the  idea  appears,  to  me,  too  gross  for 
any  enlis^htened,  intelligent  mind  to  admit.  But  when  we 
consider  Heaven  a  state,  in  which  the  mind,  or  rational  spirit, 
must  be  brought  to  enjoy  complete  felicity,  then,  of  course. 
Heaven  is  every  where  to  such  a  soul  or  spirit :  and  so  it 
must  be  of  course  to  the  infinite  Jehovah,  who  fills  all  the 
regions  of  unlimited  space ;  for  where  God  is,  there  is  Heaven, 
and  no  place  can  be  found  without  him.  But  none  can  enjoy 
tliis  heaven  of  bliss,  but  such  as  are  partakers  of  his  Divine 
nature,  which  none  experience,  but  such  as  are  born  of  his 
spirit. 

I  have  likewise  long  believed,  that  the  doctrine  of  election 
and  predestination,  is  not  only  false  and  inconsistent,  as  stand- 
ing in  eternal  contrariety  with  the  divine  attributes,  but  is 
likewise  injurious  in  its  effects  to  a  xeiY  considerable  portion 
of  Christian  professors,  and,  as  such,  I  have  found  it  my  duty 
to  oppose  and  reprobate  it,  as  being  very  inimical  to  man's 
present  and  future  good.  And,  although,  as  thou  very  justly 
observes,  it  has  been  often  combated,  and  its  inconsistency 
manifested,  yet  it  seems  to  maintain  its  ground  with  many  : 
one  cause  of  which,  I  have  believed,  is  the  cowardice  of  some, 
who  have  been  better  taught  and  instructed,  some  of  whom 
are  within  our  own  pale,  even  ministers  and  elders,  who  are 
ready  to  criminate  their  brethren,  for  publicly  opposing  and 
exposing  those  false  doctrines,  and  such  like  opinions  and 
tenets  of  others,  although  they  themselves  believe  them  to  be 
erroneous ;  but  they  love  to  keep  up  a  fair  side  to  all,  lest,  as 
the^'-  say,  they  should  give  offence  ;  and  so  balk  their  testimony, 
rather  than  lose  the  friendship,  and.  what  is  still  more  with 
them,  I  fear,  the  praise  of  men. 

The  doctrine  of  Predestination  and  Election,  with  many 
other  erroneous  opinions,  have  their  source  in  mistaken  ideas 
and  views,  that  many  people  have  formed,  of  the  Divine 
character  ;  especially  as  it  regards  his  agency  and  power,  for 
as  he  is  acknowledged  to  be  Almighty,  and  all  things  possible 


62  LETTER    TO  WILLIAM    POOLK. 

with  God,  most  people,  in  this  iinhmited  view,  thiiiK  ne  can 
do  any  and  every  thing,  and  therefore  as  whatever  is  done  by 
this  unhniited  and  Ahnighty  power  is  right,  tliey  assert  that 
in  the  exercise  of  this  power,  he  has  decreed  some  to  everlast- 
ing life,  and  others  to  endless  misery.  And  some  expressions 
of  the  apostle  Paul  seem  to  warrant  the  idea,  when  considered 
independent  of  other  of  his  expressions,  viz. :  "  Therefore  hath 
he  mercy  on  whom  he  will  have  mercy,  and  whom  he  will 
he  hardeneth,"  &c.  But  he  has  furnished  a  solution  of  that, 
where  he  says,  that  "  it  is  impossible  for  God  to  lie."  And  it 
is  no  more  impossible  for  him  to  lie,  than  it  is  to  do  any  act 
contrary  to  equity  and  justice ;  for,  I  conceive,  that  power 
in  the  Divine  Being  is  always  governed  by  his  equity  and 
justice. 

But  contrary  to  this,  most  men,  not  taking  into  view  his 
other  attributes,  suppose  that  he  may  and  can  do  any  thing, 
according  to  his  Almighty  power,  and  his  doing  it  makes  it 
right.  As  a  Friend  of  high  standing  once  argued  with  me, 
in  regard  to  liis  power  to  save  all  mankind,  that,  if  it  was 
agreeable  to  his  pleasure,  he  could  convert  and  save  all  man- 
kind in  a  moment.  To  which  I  objected  the  impossibility  of 
the  Divine  Power,  consistently  with  his  own  attributes,  saving 
any  rational,  immortal  soul,  by  an  act  of  mere  coercion,  that 
had,  in  its  own  will  and  choice,  fallen  into  a  state  of  death 
and  condemnation  :  for  if  he  could,  contrary  to  the  choice  and 
will  of  one  immortal  soul,  that  had  fallen  by  transgression, 
restore  it  again,  by  a  mere  act  of  power,  against  the  will  of  the 
creature,  then  I  had  no  doubt  but  all  would  be  saved,  because 
perfect  justice  could  not,  consistently  with  its  own  nature, 
save  one  and  reject  another,  as  all  are  by  him  considered  in 
one  predicament,  that  is,  in  a  state  of  unbelief,  that  he  might 
alike  have  mercy  upon  all. 

I  hope  ere  now  my  letter  of  last  month  has  come  to  hand  ; 
if  so,  any  further  addition,  at  present,  will  not  be  necessary. 
I  should  be  glad  to  hear  from  thee,  after  the  reception  of  this. 
Please  write  by  mail,  and  leave  the  postage  unpaid. 

With  love  to  thee  and  thine,  I  rest  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


LETTER    TO    PHEBE   WILLTS.  63 

TO    PHEBE   WILLIS. 

New  York,  <}th  mo.  ^M,  1820. 
I'EAR  Friend, 

I  have  read  tliy  coramiinication  with  attention  and  candour 
and  am  very  sorry  that  any  thing  that  I  have  said  or  done, 
should  have  given  thee  so  much  trouble  or  concern.  But  I  can 
assure  thee,  that  if  I  am  any  way  faulty  in  the  premises,  it  is 
altogether  unintended  by  me  ;  and  did  I  not  believe  that  thou 
hadst  acted  intentionally  the  part  of  a  sincere  friend,  I  should 
not  have  noticed  thy  letter  so  far  as  to  have  made  any  reply, 
as  the  greater  part  is  entirely  irrelevant  to  the  subjects,  or  to 
my  real  case.  For  if  people  that  hear  communications,  or  read 
writing,  will  take  the  liberty  to  divide  and  dissect  communica- 
tions, so  as  to  make  them  say  what  they  were  never  intended 
to  say,  who  is  the  most  blameable,  the  speaker  or  writer,  or 
hearer  or  reader? — And  this  is  often  done,  I  believe,  by  some, 
on  purpose  to  find  fault,  though  I  don't  mean  to  apply  this 
disposition  to  thee  in  the  least,  and  yet,  I  believe,  there  are 
many  such,  and  not  a  few  only,  in  our  own  society. 

Thy  greatest  concern  seems  to  be  what  I  have  said,  or  what 
my  sentiments  are,  respecting  the  Scriptures,  and  "  that  I  am 
of  a  different  opinion  concerning  them,  than  I  was  in  the  early 
part  of  my  exercises,  in  a  religious  way."  But  this  is  entirely 
a  mistake,  for  my  belief  concerning  them  has  been  uniformly 
the  same  from  my  youth  up,  even  before  thou  hadst  seen  the 
light  of  this  world : — for  a  communication  I  trust  I  was  led 
to  deliver  in  a  public  meeting  in  Oysterbay,  between  forty  and 
fifty  years  since,  is  very  fresh  in  my  remembrance,  as  it  then 
opened  in  my  mind ;  that  the  professors  of  Christianity  gene- 
rally idolized  them  as  much,  or  even  more,  and  that  to  their 
hurt,  than  ever  the  Israelites  did  the  brazen  serpent ;  which 
simile  I  then  noticed  to  the  people,  and  gave  it  as  the  opening 
view  of  my  mind,  that  the  time  was  drawing  near  when  tiie 
Lord  would  raise  up  Hezekiahs,  who  should  be  led  to  takf» 


64  LETTER    TO 

hold  of  that  idohzing  spirit  and  disposition,  and  grind  it  to 
powder,  and  it  would  be  swept  away  into  annihilation  by  the 
power  of  Shiloh's  Brook,  and  its  remembrance  would  cease  as 
to  its  reality.  For  is  it  possible  that  men  can  be  guilty  of 
greater  idolatry,  than  to  esteem  and  hold  the  Scriptures  as  the 
only  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  by  which  they  place  them  m 
the  very  seat  of  God  and  worship  them  as  God? — Thus  did 
tiie  Israelites  with  the  Brazen  serpent ;  and  although  that  had 
been  an  instrument  of  so  much  good  to  that  people,  while 
they  looked  beyond  it,  to  the  power  and  presence  of  God,  yet, 
when  they  left  their  hold  of  his  power  and  presence  and  looked 
only  to  the  power  of  the  Image,  it  did  them  more  hurt  than 
good.  The  Lord  [therefore]  saw  meet  to  take  it  away,  although 
if  the  Israelites  had  kept  up  the  true  faith  in  the  immediate 
presence,  it  might  have  been  continued  throagh  their  genera- 
tions until  the  antit^^ie  came,  which  is  Christ,  as  God  in  spirit; 
but  not  Christ  as  man.  And  to  this  Christ  and  God  which 
is  one,  I  ascribe  all  true  divinity,  and  to  those  immortal  spirits 
that  are  in  unison  with  him  and  partake  of  his  divine  nature, 
but  to  nothing  else  do  I  ascribe  any  real  Divinity ;  and  surely 
it  cannot  be  ascribed  to  any  corporal  matter,  only  in  simili- 
tude or  shadow. 

The  next  thing  I  would  observe  is,  "  that  I  have  said  that 
it  would  be  better  that  they  were  entirely  annihilated."  But 
this  is  not  the  case ;  as  I  have  never  said  it,  as  I  remember,  ex- 
cept I  might  when  in  pleasant  conversation  with  my  particular 
friends,  who  are  in  full  unity  and  knew  how  to  understand 
me,  I  might  have  said  that  I  did  not  know  but  it  might  be  as 
well  that  they  were  entirely  done  away,  but  never  expressed 
this  as  my  settled  belief  But  I  may  add,  that  I  sometimes 
ihink,  that  if  they  are  really  needful  and  useful  to  a  few  who 
make  a  right  use  of  them,  yet  as,  I  believe,  they  are  doing 
great  harm  to  multitudes  of  others,  whether  it  would  not  be 
better  for  the  few  who  find  some  comfort  and  help  from  them, 
to  give  them  up  for  a  time,  until  the  wrong  use  and  abuse  of 
them  are  done  away,  in  the  same  manner  as,  in  a  moral  rela- 
tion, it  miglit  be  better  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  world;  if 


PHEBE    WILLIS.'  65 

cHstillation,  and  the  means  of  making  spiritnous  liquors,  were, 
for  a  time,  given  up  and  done  away,  until  the  wrong  use  and 
abuse  of  them  are  done  away  and  forgotten ;  although  it  might 
deprive  some  of  the  benefit  of  them  who  use  those  articles  only 
to  their  comfort  and  help ;  for  if  after  a  time  it  might  be  thought 
right  to  renew  the  making  it,  when  the  intemperate  use  and 
abuse  was  done  away,  it  would  be  a  \'«ry  easy  thing  for  man 
to  make  it  again. 

Just  so  in  respect  to  the  Scriptures ;  it  would  be  a  very  easy 
things  for  Divine  Wisdom  and  Goodness  to  raise  up  and  qual- 
ify some  of  his  faithful  servants  to  write  scriptures,  if  he 
should  think  best,  as  good  and  as  competent  for  the  genera- 
tion in  which  they  lived,  and  likely  would  be  much  better 
than  those  written  so  many  hundred  years  since.  For 
would  not  some  of  us  be  very  glad,  if  we  could  have  imme- 
diate access  to  Paul  and  some  other  of  the  apostles,  who 
contradict  one  another  and  sometimes  themselves :  by  which 
means  we  might  be  informed  of  the  true  meaning  of  what 
they  wrote  and  cause  us  all  to  understand  them  alike. 

Another  complaint  thou  mentionest  is,  "that  I  counteract 
our  disciphne  respecting  reading  the  Scriptures,"  which  is  also 
a  mistake,  £is  my  mind  is  the  same  to  encourage  Friends, 
especially  the  younger  class,  as  I  have  always  done  in  that 
respect ;  but  I  have  only  endeavoured  to  counteract  the  inno- 
vations that  appear  in  many  Friends,  by  fixing  times  before- 
hand, some  at  tables,  and  a  great  stir  there  is  in  England, 
since  they  joined  the  superstitious  Bible  societies,  to  bring 
Friends  into  a  poor,  lifeless  form  of  calling  their  children  and 
families  together  in  the  afternoons  of  the  first  day  of  the 
week,  by  which  they  join  with  others  in  establishing  a  seventh- 
day  Sabbath,  and  by  that  means  would,  if  given  way  to, 
bring  the  Society  under  an  old  Jewish  yoke  of  bondage,  which 
the  apostle  informs  us  was  even  too  hea^vy  for  them  to  bear ; 
that  all  that  is  good  within  me  abominates  such  superstitious 
conduct.  I  consider  our  discipline  goes  no  further,  and  means 
no  more,  than  that  Friends  carefully  endeavour  by  every 
right  means  to  inculcate  right  ideas  of  morality  and  religion 

9 


66  LETTER    TO 

in  the  minds  of  their  children  and  their  famihes;  and  beiiev- 
ing,  that  by  sometimes  reading  the  Scriptures  and  other  good 
books  at  intervals,  when  nothing  better  ofiers,  they  prove  as 
an  auxihary,  they  recommend  them  accordingly,  but  have 
fixed  no  times  for  it;  and  which,  in  my  opinion,  would  be 
very  improper.  But  that  Friends,  especially  heads  of  fami- 
lies, live  under  a  right  concern,  so  that  they  may  be  ready, 
whenever  they  feel  their  minds  secretly  drawn  into  a  solemn 
state,  that  they  yield  thereto  and  wait  to  be  instructed  how 
to  act  and  what  to  do,  and,  I  believe,  were  this  the  case  with 
parents  of  children,  they  would  often  be  furnished  with  a 
word  of  counsel  and  encouragement,  although  contained 
in  bat  few  expressions,  that  would  be  more  effectual  to 
the  help  and  encouragement  of  their  children  and  fami- 
lies, than  the  reading  of  all  Paul's  epistles  without  being 
under  the  right  covering  ;  for  it  will  remain  an  eternal  truth 
that  the  letter  killeth,  but  the  spirit  only  giveth  life. 

I  shall  notice  one  thing  more  in  thy  letter,  that  res- 
pecting the  atonement ;  and  as  time  will  not  admit  me  to 
write  much  more,  I  shall  in  a  short  way  give  thee  my  view 
on  the  subject.  And  first,  I  may  say  that  our  primitive 
Friends  stopped  short  in  that  matter,  not  for  want  of  faith- 
fulness, but  because  the  day,  that  was  in  some  respects  still 
dark,  would  not  admit  of  further  openings,  because  the 
people  could  not  bear  it,  therefore  it  was  to  be  a  future 
work.  But  to  suppose,  in  this  day  of  advanced  light,  that 
the  oftering  of  the  outward  body  of  Jesus  Christ,  should 
purge  away  spiritual  corruption,  is  entirely  inconsistent  with 
the  nature  and  reason  of  things,  as  flesh  and  spirit  bear 
no  analogy  with  each  other,  and  it  likewise  contradicts  our 
Lord's  own  doctrines,  where  he  assured  the  people,  that 
the  flesh  profiteth  nothing,  and  many  other  of  his  sayings 
it  contradicts.  And  I  believe  nothing  ever  did  or  ever  will 
atone  for  spiritual  corruption,  but  the  entire  death  of  that 
from  whence  that  corruption  originated,  which  is  the  cor- 
rupt will  and  the  life  that  the  creature  has  generated  in 
him   bv  that  will,  both  which  must  be  slain  by  the  sword 


PIIEBE    WILLIS. 


67 


of  the  spirit,  which  stands  in  the  way  to  Eden,  and  must 
die  and  be  annihilated  on  the  cross ;  and.  this  is  the  true 
atonement,  which  the  creature  cannot  effect  for  himself,  only 
as  he  submits  to  the  operation  of  the  life  and  spirit  of 
Christ,  which  will  enable  the  willing  and  obedient  to  do 
it.  And  the  outward  atonement  was  a  figure  of  it,  which, 
with  the  outward  example  of  Jesus  Christ  in  his  righteous 
works  and  pious  death,  gives  strength  to  be  faithful  to 
make  this  necessary  offering  and  sacrifice  unto  [God],  by 
which  his  sins  are  blotted  [out],  and  he  again  reconciled  to 
his  Maker. 

/  inust  now  close,  as  time  calls  me  aioay ;  thou  must 
excuse  the  scribbling  way  in  which  I  have  loritten,  as  the 
shortness  of  time  made  it  necessary  to  write  in  much 
haste. 

In  love  to  you  all,  I  rest  thy  affectionate  friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


08  LETTER   TO 

TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  \2th  mo.  28th,  1830. 
Dear  Frie.vd, 

Thy  letter  of  8th  mo.  21st,  and  that  of  9th  mo.  20th,  as 
also  a  note  by  Stephen  and  Edmund  Willets,  were  all  duly 
received.  In  the  latter,  thou  accountest  correctly  for  my  not 
answering  the  two  foregoing  ones,  ere  now.  I  left  home  the 
22d  of  9th  mo.  to  join  a  committee  of  our  yearly  meeting, 
in  visiting  the  monthly  meetings  within  its  compass,  on  a 
concern  that  originated  in  said  meeting,  in  consequence  of  the 
many  deficiencies  stated  in  the  reports  from  the  Quarters. 
Previous  to  this  time,  I  was  for  some  days  taken  up  in  attend- 
ing on  my  son-in-law,  who  had  a  severe  attack  of  indisposi- 
tion, and  as  soon  as  he  mended,  so  that  I  felt  easy  to  leave 
him,  I  left  home,  the  committee  having  proceeded  a  few  days 
previously.  He  is  now  pretty  welt  restored  to  usual  health  : 
but  he,  and  his  wife  and  surviving  children,  have  recently  had 
a  close  trial,  in  the  decease  of  his  youngest  daughter  Eliza- 
beth, about  eight  years  of  age ; — she  was  a  precious,  promising 
child.  Since  which,  Sarah,  the  widow  of  Isaac  Hiclis,  bus 
had  a  similar  trial,  in  parting  with  Mary,  her  youngest  daugh- 
ter ;  and  although  it  was  like  rending  bone  from  bone,  yet  by 
labouring  after  patience  and  due  resignation,  they  appear  again 
pretty  well  composed. 

What  thou  farther  observes,  of  Heaven  being  a  state  and 
not  a  place,  is  perfectly  congenial  to  my  views ;  and,  I  con- 
ceive, it  would  be  the  sentiment  of  every  intelligent  person, 
did  they  rightly  improve  the  means  dispensed  to  them  by  a 
wise  and  gracious  Providence,  freed  from  the  shackles  of 
superstition  and  tradition,  which  have  been  riveted  on  their 
minds  by  an  erroneous  education. 

"  'Tis  education  forms  the  common  mind, 
Just  as  the  twig  is  bent,  the  tree's  inclined." 

Wliat  very  great  responsibility  attaches  to  parents,  and  how 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  69 

very  necessary  it  is  for  rliem  to  use  every  right  means  in  their 
power,  to  establish  in  the  minds  of  their  children,  in  early  life, 
correct  principles  and  right  views,  in  order  that  the  rising 
youth  under  their  charge,  may  be  educated  in  the  path  of 
rectitude,  and  have  right  ideas  of  the  Divine  character. 

As  to  the  unchangeable  unity  of  the  Divine  Power  and 
great  First  Cause  of  all  created  existence,  as  declared  to 
Moses,  -^dz.  "  I  am,  that  I  am,"  we  must  believe  he  is  incapa- 
ble of  division  ;  for  as  there  can  be  but  one  will  in  Heaven,  to 
render  it  a  state  of  perfect  happiness,  so  there  can  be  but 
one  wall  in  God,  who  is  the  King  immortal,  invisible  ;  "whose 
dwelling  is  in  the  light,  which  no  man  can  approach  unto;" 
and  who  saith  by  his  prophet  Isaiah,  "  Who  hath  told  this 
from  that  time  ?  Have  not  I  the  Lord  ?  And  there  is  no  God 
else  besides  me ;  a  just  God,  and  a  Saviour ;  there  is  none 
beside  me.  Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved,  all  tlie  ends  of 
the  earth  ;  for  I  am  God.  and  there  is  none  else."  Isaiah  xlv. 
21,  22. 

I  apprehend  that  all  those  erroneous  ideas,  that  have  sfot  a 
place  in  the  minds  of  most  of  the  professors  of  Christianity, 
(some  of  which  thou  hast  hinted  at,)  as  it  respects  the  unity 
of  God,  have  arisen  from  the  want  of  being  rightly  instructed 
in  the  design  and  purpose  of  Jehovah,  in  dispensing  that  out- 
ward figurative  covenant,  and  letter,  or  written  law,  to  the 
people  of  Israel ;  and  therefore,  they  have  blended  it  with  the 
Gospel,  and  endeavour  to  unite  Flesh  and  Spirit,  Heaven  and 
Earth :  and  which  has  given  rise  to  most  of  the  disputes  and 
dissension  ajnong  those  that  go  under  the  Christian  name. 
Hence  the  necessity  of  keeping  the  two  dispensations  or  cove- 
nants separate  and  entirely  distinct,  one  from  the  other  ;  giving 
to  the  outward  law  dispensation  all  its  claim :  that  is,  all  that 
is  outward,  all  that  is  visible  ;  every  thing  discoverable  by  the 
outward  or  external  senses,  such  as  outward  circumcision,  an 
outward  bondage  and  captivity,  an  outward  deliverance  and 
salvation,  an  outward  Jerusalem,  an  outward  Heaven,  an  out- 
ward God  [or  representative  of  him,]  outward  legal  sins,  and 
an  outward  Saviour  to  redeem  from  those  outward  legal  sins 


70 


LETTER    TO 


and  transgressions ; — all  these  joined  together  in  an  outward 
covenant,  make  one  complete  whole,  all  open  to  the  view  of 
the  external  senses. 

And  as  this  first  covenant  was  outwardly  suited  to  man's 
animal  nature,  so  likewise  the  Heaven  was  suited  to  man's 
animal  nature :  as  all  its  bread  and  all  its  wine,  and  all  its 
water,  could  only  nourish,  comfort,  and  satiate  the  thirst  of 
man's  animal  nature,  likewise  its  God  was  outward  and  its 
Saviour  outward, — all  applying  to  man's  animal  nature,  and 
could  rise  no  higher.  The  apostle  Paul  correctly  declares, 
"  That  was  not  first  which  is  spiritual,  but  that  which  is  nat- 
ural, and  afterward  that  which  is  spiritual ;"  and  he  further 
says,  "For  if  that  first  covenant  had  been  faultless,  then  should 
no  place  have  been  sought  for  the  second."  Therefore,  the 
first  must  altogether  pass  away,  not  only  in  part,  but  the 
whole,  even  its  heaven :  for  otherwise  there  would  be  no  place 
for  the  second. 

Such  was  the  ignorance  and  carnality  of  the  Israelites, 
that  is,  the  generality  of  them,  that  they  did  not  look  to  be 
instructed  in  any  other  way,  than  through  the  medium  of  their 
external  senses ;  therefore  the  Lord  condescended  to  meet 
with  them  and  instruct  them  in  that  way  through  his  ser- 
vants, viz.  Moses  and  the  Prophets,  and  finally  by  his  Son 
Jesus  Christ,  who,  when  he  had  fulfilled  the  law  of  the  out- 
ward covenant,  and  all  the  righteousness  of  that  external  tes- 
timony, told  his  disciples,  that  it  was  expedient  for  them  that 
he  should  go  away,  assuring  them,  that  if  he  went  not  away, 
the  Comforter  would  not  come.  By  which  we  clearly  disco- 
ver, that  that  outward  body  of  Jesus,  together  with  all  those 
outward  miracles,  wrought  in  and  through  that  body  of  flesh, 
and  blood,  such  as  healing  the  sick,  cleansing  the  leper,  caus- 
ing the  blind  to  see,  the  deaf  to  hear,  the  dumb  to  speak,  the 
lame  to  walk,  &c.,  are  all  a  part  of  the  figurative  dispensation, 
and  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  with  all  his  outward,  visible,  mighty 
works,  acting  on  the  animal  bodies  of  men,  was  the  top-stone 
of  that  shadowy  dispensation,  given  only  to  the  people  of 
Israel,  as  Jesus  with  all  liis  mighty  works  was  sent  but  to  that 


WILLIAM    POOLE. 


71 


people,  according  to  his  own  declaration  ;  "  I  am  not  sent  but 
unto  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  Israel."     Matt.  xv.  24. 

But  in  and  under  the  Gospel  dispensation,  the  law  and 
covenant  is  spiritual  and  universal,  written  in  the  heart  of 
every  rational  being  mider  Heaven  ;  and  is,  therefore,  invisible 
to  all  the  external  senses,  and  is  only  manifested  by  its  fruits. 
And  as  the  law  and  covenant  is  spiritual  and  internal,  so  like- 
wise, the  Messiah  and  Comforter  of  the  Gospel  dispensation 
is  spiritual,  and  only  internally  and  spiritually  known  and 
manifested,  and  is  universallt/  manifested  to  all  the  children 
of  men,  the  world  over ;  and  by  wliom  the  Gospel  is  preached 
in  every  rational  creature.  For  every  one  that  has  pierced 
him  shall  see  him ;  and  as  all  have  pierced  him  with  their 
sins,  so  every  eye  shall  see  him,  inwardly,  but  not  out- 
wardly, for  only  one  man  pierced  the  outward  Messiah,  but 
all  have  pierced  the  spiritual  Messiah,  and  borne  him  down 
as  a  cart  with  sheaves,  and  for  which  all  will  have  to  weep, 
and  howl,  either  in  mercy  or  judgment. 

But  some  may  object  and  say,  who  is  this  spiritual  Messiah, 
or  Comforter  ?  To  which  I  answer,  he  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  or 
Spirit  of  Truth,  the  one  God,  and  only  self-existing  First 
Cause,  by  which  the  worlds  were  made,  and  who  is  the  Author 
of  all  created  existence, — one  God  over  all,  and  through  all, 
and  who  graciously  condescends  to  teach  his  people  himself, 
for  the  "  Lord's  children  are  all  taught  of  the  Lord,  and  in 
righteousness  are  they  established,  and  great  is  the  peace  of 
his  children."  For  as  the  mind  or  soul  of  man  is  visited  and 
acted  upon  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  or  invisible  power  of  God, 
and  is  united  with  this  divine  visiter,  and  becomes  passive  to 
its  influence,  there  is  a  conception  witnessed,  and  a  new  birth 
is  brought  forth,  which  the  miraculous  conception  and  birth  of 
the  blessed  Jesus  was  a  figure  of  And  as  Mary  nursed  and 
brought  up  the  child  .Tesus,  from  his  infancy  to  manhood,  by 
the  aid  of  her  husband,  so  the  soul,  under  the  direction  of  its 
Heavenly  husband,  nourishes  up  this  new  born  child  of  God, 
until  it  comes  to  the  state  of  a  "  young  man,  and  has  overcome 
the  wicked  one ;"  that  is,  the  old  earthly  or  first  nature,  oy 


LETTER    TO 


which  it  witnesses  the  resurrection  from  the  dead,  being  raised 
up  from  dead  works,  to  serve  the  hving  God  in  newness  of 
hfe,  which  is  the  second  birth,  whereby  it  regains  paradise. 
Hence  is  fulfilled,  spiritually,  all  that  Jesus  passed  through 
outwardly ;  the  one  the  figure,  and  the  other  the  substance ; 
and  as  Jesus  did  all,  in  the  outward,  by  the  power  of  his 
Heavenly  Father,  so  this  spiritual  birth  likewise  does  all,  by 
the  power  of  its  Heavenly  Father.  Hence  it  is  one  God, 
working  all  in  all,  both  in  the  outward,  and  in  the  inward 
and  spiritual  Covenant,  and  hence  all  is  given  up  to  him,  and 
he  becomes  all  in  all,  one  God  over  all,  unchangeably  the 
same,  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever. 

And,  although  God  was  in  Christ  in  the  fulness,  even  in 
that  very  man  called  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  and  through  him,  as 
a  proper  vehicle,  wrought  all  those  mighty  works,  yet.  at  the 
same  time,  he  was  also  every  where  else,  as  he  pervades  all 
space,  and  is  a  complete,  indivisible,  omnipresent,  unchange- 
able God,  and  who  only  is  worthy  to  be  worshipped,  honoured, 
and  obeyed  by  the  children  of  men,  throughout  all  ages,  world 
without  end.  And  as  the  holy  man  Jesus  possessed  the  divine 
nature  of  his  Heavenly  Father  in  the  fulness,  so  his  children, 
born  anew  by  his  spirit,  become  partakers  of  his  divine  nature, 
and,  as  Paul  says,  these  are  "  heirs  of  God  and  joint-heirs  with 
Christ." 

Finally,  my  dear  friend,  farewell. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO   WILLIAM   POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  2d  mil.  Uth,  1821. 
Dear  Friend, 

Thine  of  the  16th  ultimo  was  duly  received,  and  read  with 
satisfaction ;  and  for  my  not  giving  a  more  full  explanation 
of  some  of  my  views,  in  my  last,  please  to  forgive  the  defect, 
wlien  I  make  the  following  apology,  viz.:  having  been  from 


•  WILLIAM    POOLE.  73 

home,  most  of  the  time,  for  a  number  of  months  past,  attend- 
ing to  various  religious  engagements  ;  while  absent,  many 
(etters  were  received  from  a  number  of  my  friends,  from 
various  parts  of  the  country,  and,  as  thou  knowest  that 
friendship  is  a  sacred  tie,  and  involves  mutual  obligations,  1 
was  desirous  of  filling  up  my  part,  by  answering  my  friends' 
letters  seasonably,  lest  I  should  incur  censure  for  neglect. 
I  have  found  it  expedient,  when  tluis  urged,  to  forward  the  first 
rough  draft,  most  of  which  are  written  in  haste ;'  this  was  the 
case  with  my  last  to  thee :  but  believing  that  thou  wouldst 
construe  charitably  such  omissions,  or  errors,  as  I  might 
have  overlooked,  I  ventured  to  send  it,  (although  not  fully 
satisfied  with  it  myself,)  and  had  rather,  if  time  had  per- 
mitted, given  it  another  investigation.  But  it  may  be  best 
as  it  is,  as  thy  remarks  thereon,  may  enable  me  more 
fully  to  give  thee  my  views  on  those  subjects  not  so  fully 
explained. 

In  regard  to  an  outward  [representative  of]  God,  (to  open 
this  subject,)  it  will  be  proper  to  have  reference  to  a  number 
of  passages  of  Scripture,  and  also  to  begin  with  the  opening  of 
the  lav/  dispensation  by  Moses  :  "  Even  he  shall  be  to  thee 
instead  of  a  mouth,  and  thou  shalt  be  to  him  instead  of  God." — 
Exodus,  iv.  16.  "  I  will  raise  them  up  a  prophet  from  among 
their  brethren,  like  unto  thee,  and  will  put  my  words  in  his 
mouth;  and  he  shall  speak  unto  them  all  that  I  shall  com- 
mand him.  And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  whosoever  will 
not  hearken  unto  my  words,  which  he  shall  speak  in  my  name, 
I  will  require  it  of  him." — Deut.  xviii.  18,  19.  "  For  Moses 
truly  said  unto  the  fathers,  a  prophet  shall  the  Lord  your  God 
raise  up  unto  you  of  your  brethren,  like  unto  me  ;  him  shall 
ye  hear  in  all  things,  whatsoever  he  shall  say  unto  you. 
And  it  shall  come  to  pass,  that  every  soul  which  will  not  hear 
that  prophet  shall  be  destroyed  from  among  the  people." — 
Acts,  iii.  22,  23. 

It  is  very  evident,  from  "these  passages  and  many  others, 
that  might  be  quoted,  that  the  Israelites  were  reduced  to 
such  a  state  of  sensuality  and  ignorance  by  their  bondage, 


74  LETTER    TO 

that  the  heiglit  of  their  desires,  generally,  as  a  body  of  people, 
iu  regard  to  happiness,  was  comprehended  in  a  deliverance 
from  their  outward  captivity,  and  being  placed  in  the  full 
enjoyment  of  temporal  blessings.  And  we  do  not  find  that  any 
reward  was  offered  as  an  inducement  to  theij-  fulfilment  of  the 
outward  law  and  commandment,  but  the  outward  promised 
land,  with  outward  advantages,  comprehending  every  thing 
necessary  to  complete  the  happiness  of  the  animal  man,  as 
they  were  faithful  to  the  law  and  testimony  of  that  dispensa- 
tion ;  (although  it  made  none  of  the  comers  thereto  perfect, 
as  pertaining  to  the  conscience,)  and  thus  we  are  furnished 
with  a  complete  figure  of  the  invisible  heaven,  or  state  of 
happiness  to  the  immortal  soul ;  and  as  the  invisible  God, 
who  is  an  eternal,  self-existing,  undivided,  unchangeable 
spirit — the  alone  Creator,  and  First  Cause  of  all  things,  be- 
comes the  sole  Ruler  and  Governor  in  any  immortal  soul  of 
man,  and  the  creature  becomes  wholly  passive,  here  the  divine 
will  governs  in  all  things,  and  this  constitutes  Heaven  to  tho 
soul.  And  although  there  may  be  ten  thousand,  or  any  other 
number  of  souls,  yet  if  all  are  passive  as  above,  and  as  meal 
to  the  leaven,  still,  there  will  be  but  one  will,  that  rules  and 
governs  all ;  and  this  state,  and  this  only,  constitutes  Heaven, 
where  there  is  perpetual  and  universal  harmony. 

And  it  is  ckar,  from  the  history  of  Israel's  redemption  from 
Pharaoh's  yoke,  that  this  complete  passive  state  of' the  will, 
was  the  principal  requisite  in  effecting  their  deliverance,  for 
when  there  was  the  least  appearance  of  the  Israelites'  exerting 
a  will,  contrary  to  this  entire  passive  state  it  immediately 
stopped  their  progress.  But  where  there  are  two  contrary, 
wills,,  even  in  a  family  outwardly,  there  is  always  a  want  of 
right  harmony.  Thus  when  our  first  parents  "set  up  a  will, 
and  turned  away  from  that  passive  state,  they  ought  ever  to 
have  stood  in  to  the  divine  will ,  God  graciously  ordained, 
that  the  woman  should  be  subject  to  her  husband,  and  he 
should  rule  over  her,  and  this  subjection  ought  to  continue 
until  both  surrender  their  wills  again  to  God,  as  in  the  begin- 
ning, and  then  male  and  female  are  one  in  him,  and  then 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  lO 

man's  sovereig-nty  over  tlie  woman  is  entirely  done  away,  and 
God's  will. becomes  all  in  all. 

And  to  make  the  outward  law  and  dispensation  a  complete 
figrire  of  the  inward,  there  must  be  not  only  an  outward 
circumcision,  but  an  outward  moral  law,  to  regulate  the  out- 
ward conduct,  likewise  an  outward  ceremonial  religion  ;  and 
as  religion  is  to  pave  the  way  to  Heaven,  therefore,  to  make 
the  figure  complete,  there  must  be  an  outward  Heaven.  This 
the  Jews  had,  and  as  Heaven  cannot  be  such  Avithout  a  God, 
so,  as  all  the  rest  are  outward,  there  must  be  an  outward  God, 
or  representative  of  God,  to  complete  the  figure.  And  by  the 
foregoing  quotations,  it  appears  to  me,  that  Jesus  Christ  was 
to  be  the  sole  Director  and  Governor  in  Israel,  during  the  time 
of  his  outward  ministration  ;  as  all  were,  to  hear  him,  under 
the  penalty  of  being  cut  ofi"  or  destroyed  from  among  the 
people.  And  this  view  seems  verified,  by  the  implicit  obedience 
of  his  disciples  to  his  commands,  by  which  their  wills  Avere 
entirely  subdued  to  his  will ;  and  although  he  often,  in  his 
communications,  endeavoured  to  raise  their  views,  yet  it  is 
very  evident  that  their  attachment  was  so  fixed  on  tlie  out- 
ward manifestation,  and  tlieir  attention  so  wholly  turned  to  be 
instructed  through  the  medium  of  tlie  outward  senses,  that, 
I  conceive,  it  requires  no  forced  construction  to  conclude,  he 
stood  in  relation  to  them  as  a  God,  in  the  same  sense  as  their 
outward  good  land  was  a  type  of  Heaven,  or  an  outward 
Heaven,  and  their  outward  Jerusalem  as  the  city  of  God  and 
type  of  the  spiritual  Jerusalem.  Jesus  Christ,  in  his  outward 
manifestation,  \\'as  more  blest,  and  abundantly  more  glorified, 
than  any  other  man,  and  was  above  all,  and  therefore  was  the 
representative  of  God  on  earth,  visible  to  the  external  senses, 
although  the  power  by  which  he  did  all  his  mighty  works, 
was  the  invisible  power  of  God,  conferred  upon  him  for  that 
end,  he  being  the  instrument  through  whom  God,  by  his 
power,  wrought  all  those  mighty  works,  that  declared  him  to 
be  the  Son  of  God  with  power  ;  but  it  \vas  only  the  ell'ects  of 
the  power,  and  not  the  power,  that  was  visible  to  the  outward 
senses  of  his  disciples  and  the  people. 


76 


LETTER    TO 


Hence  it  was  expedient  that  he  should  leave  them,  as  to  his 
visible  appearance,  as  nothing  short  of  that,  could  open  the 
way  for  their  reception  of  the  Holy  Spirit  as  a  leader.  And, 
in  another  respect,  he  stood  in  place  of  God  to  that  people,  in 
raising  their  dead  outwardly,  and  heahng  all  their  outward 
maladies,  and  forgiving  those  he  healed  of  all  their  legal  sins, 
by  which  he  qualified  them  to  enjoy  all  the  privileges  and 
good  things  of  their  outward  Heaven,  and  all  the  happiness  it 
comprehended.  In  which,  he  and  his  mighty  works,  out- 
wardly wrought,  were  a  complete  figure  of  the  work  of  God 
on  the  believing  soul ;  raising  it  from  the  death  of  sin,  healing 
it  of  all  its  spiritual  maladies,  and  fitting  it  for  the  enjojanent 
of  the  divine  presence,  which  is  Heaven  in  the  substance. 
And  as  he  stood  in  place  of  God  outwardly  to  Israel,  so  he 
was  likewise  a  real  and  true  man,  as  the  scriptures  abundantly 
assure  us,  being  the  son,  or  oflspring,  of  Abraham  and  David 
after  the  flesh  ;  born  of  an  Israelitish  virgin,  brought  up  and 
nursed  by  his  parents,  and  was  subject  unto  them,  until  he 
arrived  at  the  state  of  manhood;  complying  faithfully  with  all 
the  requisitions  and  ordinances  of  the  Jewish  law,  by  which 
he  justified  his  Heavenly  Father  in  giving  that  law  and  those 
commandments,  proving,  by  his  faithfully  fiilfilling  all  of  them, 
that  it  was  within  the  capacity  and  power  of  every  Israelite 
to  have  done  the  same,  had  they  faithfully  improved  the  ability 
they  had  received  for  that  end  ;  and,  by  which,  he  condemned 
their  unfaithfulness.  And  the  last  ritual  was  John's  water 
Baptism,  by  complying  with  which,  he  fulfilled  all  the  right- 
eousness of  the  outward  law  and  testament,  and  was  then 
prepared  for  entering  upon  his  mission  by  the  more  fiill 
diftusion  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  descended  upon  him 
as  soon  as  he  had  finished  all  the  work  of  shadows,  relative 
to  the  law  state,  and  which  qualified  him  for  his  Gospel 
mission,  in  which  he  went  forth,  clothed  with  power  from 
on  high,  preaching  the  glad  tidings  of  peace  and  salvation  ; 
very  few,  however,  understood  or  believed  his  doctrines, 
the  people  being  so  outward  and  worldly-minded.  And, 
when  he  had  finished  his  ministration,  in  which  lie  fulfilled 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  77 

the  righteousness  of  botli  tlie  law  and  the  Gospel,  setting 
thereby  an  example  to  all  his  followers, — showing  them  that 
by  faithfulness  to  the  operations  of  the  same  spirit  and  poAver, 
according  to  the  measure  received,  they  might  do  the  same ; 
yea,  he  assured  his  immediate  followers,  that  even  greater 
works  than  these  which  he  had  done,  should  they  do.  AYhen 
he  had  thus  finished  his  course,  he  surrendered  himself  to  his 
enemies,  who  crucified  him,  that  is  his  outward  jjody,  which 
was  all  they  could  do.  But  when  he  gave  up  the 'ghost, 
his  immortal  spirit  rose  superior  to  all  their  malice,  and 
ascended  immediately  into  Paradise.  This  ascension  was 
not  visible  to  the  outward  senses  ;  his  body  was  laid  in  the 
tomb, — and  to  complete  the  figure  of  our  redemption,  it  Avas 
raised  again  outwardly,  by  which  is  tyjjified  the  crucifixion  of 
the  old  fallen  man,  with  all  his  deeds,  which  is  effected  by  the 
cross  of  Christ ;  as  saith  the  apostle,  "  Know  ye  not,  that  so 
many  of  us  as  were  baptized  into  Jesus  Christ"  that  is  into  the 
spirit  and  power  of  God"were  baptized  into  his  death  ?  There- 
fore we  are  buried  with  him  by  baptism  into  death  ;  that  like 
as  Christ  was  raised  up''  outwardly  "J\om  the  dead  by  the  glory 
of  the  Father,  even  so  we  also  sliould"  be  spiritually  raised  up 
to'^walk  in  newness  of  life." 

And  this  outward  ascension,  as  it  was  manifest  to  the  exter- 
nal senses  of  his  disciples,  must  liave  been  the  outward  man, 
as  the  immortal  spirit  of  the  Saviour  never  was,  nor  ever  could 
be,  seen  by  outward  eyes  : — hence  this  outward  ascension  was 
a  complete  type  of  the  inward  or  spiritual  ascension,  of  the 
immortal  soul  of  man,  from  an  earthly  to  a  heavenly  state  ; 
by  which  it  regains  Paradise,  and  which  must  and  will  be 
regained  by  every  redeemed  soul  on  this  side  the  grave. 

I  have  the  same  view  as  thou  hast,  in  regard  to  the  expres- 
sion of  Jesus  on  the  cross,  when  he  said  "  It  is  finished,"  that 
it  not  only  related  to  his  finishing  and  abolishing  the  law,  but 
equally  so  to  his  ministiy  of  the  Gospel ;  for  his  Gospel  doc- 
trines supersede  the  law,  in  my  opinion,  entirely.  By  these 
we  are  required  to  do  good  for  evil,  and  when  smitten  on  one 
cheek  to  turn  the  other,  to  cease  from  oaths,  to  love  our  neigh- 


78 


LETTER    TO 


bouT  as  ourselves,  and  to  love  our  enemies  and  to  pray  for 
them;  and  to  do  unto  all  others  as  we  would  they  should 
do  unto  us,  (fcc.  &c. 

I  conceive  that  those  who  have  these  divine  precepts,  and 
understand  them,  have  no  absolute  need  of  any  part  of  the 
law  of  Moses  for  instruction.  As  the  inward  Divine  Law 
comprehends  much  more,  and  its  moral  precepts  are  much 
more  extensive  and  dignified,  than  those  of  the  outward  law 
and  testimony,  and  therefore,  it  not  only  supersedes  them,  but 
renders  them  entirely  nugatory  to  the  Christian,  as  he  must 
know  them  all  fulfilled,  before  entering  the  Christian  state. 

I  agree  with  thee,  that  unbelief  in  the  creature  more  gene- 
rally arises  from  the  want  of  a  willingness  to  believe  plain 
truths,  than  from  the  want  of  knowing  what  those  truths  are. 
and  for  the  reasons  thou  hast  given,  for  they  find  if  they  yield 
to  plain  truth,  it  will  take  from  them  what  they  want  to  retain, 
or  stand  in  the  way  of  what  they  v.  ish  to  gain,  as  in  the  case 
•of  Balaam. 

As  to  my  saying  there  can  be  but  one  will  in  Heaven,  I  had 
no  other  view,  than  to  consider  it  a  state  and  not  a  place  ;  and 
I  apprehend  that  the'premises  on  which  I  founded  the  expres- 
sion, would  have  explained  it  in  that  way  ;  but  as  I  have  no 
copy  of  that  letter,  and  do  not  remember  the  wording  of  it,  I 
conclude  it  escaped  my  notice.  But  as  all  my  knowledge  of 
Heaven  arises  from  an  inward  sense  in  my  own  soul,  and  that 
sweet  enjoyment  that  I  sometimes  feel  and  believe  to  be  of  a 
heavenly  nature,  because  it  satiates  all  the  desires  of  the  soul, 
and  which  is  only  witnessed  when  the  soul  is  entirely  swal- 
lowed up  in  the  Divine  will,  and  wholly  passive  to  the  Divine 
power  ;  this  has  brought  me  to  believe,  that  there  can  be  but 
one  will  in  the  soul  that  is  in  a  heavenly  state,  or  a  state  in 
which  God  only  rules  and  reigns. 

Other  parts  of  thy  letter  that  I  have  not  particularly  noticed, 
are  in  unison  with  my  views,  and  as  my  paper  is  now  nearly 
full,  I  must  draw  to  a  close.  Therefore,  with  the  salutation  of 
love  to  thee,  thy  dear  wife  and  children,  in  which  my  wife 
joins,  I  conclude  thy  affectionate  friend,     ELIAS  HICKS. 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  79 

TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

New  York,  Uh  mo.  26tk,  1821. 
Mt  Dear  Friend, 

•  Thine  of  the  16th  instant  was  handed  to  me  yesterday  by 
a  friend  at  the  close  of  our  Select  quarterly  meeting,  and  the 
sight  of  it  only  was  truly  consoling,  having,  from  a  report  of 
thy  indisposition  that  was  circulated  among  us,  let  in  a  fear, 
that  I  should  never  see  another  letter  in  thy  own  handwrit- 
ing : — that  truly,  my  dear  friend,  the  sight  of  it,  and  the  con- 
tents when  read,  were  a  feast  of  fat  things,  to  find  that  thou 
wast  improving  in  thy  bodily  health,  but  more  especially  that 
thy  mental  tone  of  reflection,  and  consideration  was  returning 
in  its  usual  vigour.  Have  we  not  often  cause  to  say,  with 
David,  "  What  shall  we  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  bene- 
fits?" for  he  often  wounds  to  heal,  and  sometimes  brings  a 
dark  shade  of  affliction  and  trial  over  us,  purposely  for  our 
brightening  and  more  full  purification  from  the  dregs  of  our 
fallen  nature ;  and  to  give  a  more  enlightened  view  of  the 
excellence  of  his  wisdom  and  power;  and  of  his  never  failing, 
unchangeable  goodness  and  mercy;  therefore,  dear  friend, 
we  have  abundant  cause  continually  to  thank  him  and  take 
courage. 

As  to  the  subject  thou  mentionest  relating  to  a  sentiment  of 
mine,  that  a  preparation  for  Heaven  and  happiness  must  be 
witnessed  on  this  side  the  grave ;  this  sentiment  I  conceive  is 
unchangeably  correct ;  as  reason  and  truth  corroborate  the 
scripture  testimony,  that  there  is  no  repentance  in  the  grave, 
nor  are  we,  from  these  sources,  permitted  to  believe  the  Romish 
error  of  a  purgatory  after  death,  nor  have  we  any  ground  from 
reason  or  revelation  to  believe  we  shall  have  another  state  of 
probation  when  this  has  passed  away ;  but  what  most  forcibly 
establishes  my  belief  in  the  premises,  arises  from  a  considera- 
tion of  the  state  in  which  Divine  Wisdom  has  placed  his 
rational  creaturesjformed  by  his  own  power,  innocent  and  clean 
f'j?m  any  defilement ;    but  placed   in   a   state  of  probation, 


89 


LETTER  TO 


endued  by  their  gracious  Creator  with  a  sufficient  portion  of 
wisdom  and  understanding,  if  rightly  improved  under  his  wise 
direction  and  guidance,  to  rise  out  of  this  innocent  statu,  to  a 
state  of  experience  in  Imowledge  and  virtue,  and,  by  a  steady 
perseverance  in  this  way,  to  a  state  of  glorification  with  their 
heavenly  Father. 

And  as  all  man's  defilement  arises  from  his  own  acts,  by 
making  a  wrong  use  of  his  liberty,  while  endued  with  suf- 
ficient power  and  understanding  to  have  stood,  had  he  made 
a  right  use  thereof,  so  this  power  and  ability  is  continued  to 
him,  to  enable  and  lead  him  in  the  way  of  return,  during  the 
time  of  his  i^robation;  but  if  still  he  goes  on  in  his  wrong 
choice,  and  in  the  gratification  of  his  own  will  and  sensual 
lust,  in  opposition  to  the  strivings  of  the  divine  light  in  his 
mind,  during  the  day  of  liis  probation  here,  he  becomes  so 
swallowed  up  in  the  vortex  of  darkness  and  hardness  of  heart, 
that,  if  hereafter  he  had  an  eternity  of  probation,  we  have  no 
reason  to  suppose  he  would  ever  change  his  course.  And  when 
man  makes  his  election  and  choice  to  do  right,  and  improves 
his  ability  so  to  do,  under  the  direction  of  his  gracious  Bene- 
factor, he  becomes  so  wedded  to  it,  and  so  swallowed  up  in  the 
Divine  Nature,  that  all  the  ground  of  temptation  in  him  is 
removed  and  done  away ;  and  this  agrees  with  the  doctrine 
of  the  apostle  respecting  those  who  are  born  of  God.  There- 
fore the  circumstance  of  Israel's  having  enemies  to  encounter 
after  they  entered  their  promised  land,  will  not  hold  good  as 
a  figure  to  the  righteous  after  death,  but  may,  in  some  degree, 
while  passing  through  this  scene  of  trial ;  because  it  would 
prove  too  much,  as  Israel  so  revolted  after  they  had  entered, 
as  to  become  entirely  dispossessed ;  which,  to  admit  as  a 
figure  to  those  who  die  in  a  heavenly  state,  or  state  of 
acceptance  with  God^  that  they  might  afterwards  fall  away, 
or  be  farther  tried,  would  be  a  cause  of  great  discourage 
ment,  and  tend  to  destroy  all  our  hope.  And  although  I 
believe,  that  the  righteous  after  death  are  established  be- 
yond the  reach  of  danger,  or  trial,  yet  not  bej^ond  a  state 
of  continual  advancement   in  glory  and  joy.      For,   as   by 


WILLIAM  poolp:.  81 

experience,  we  learn  that  the  continued  possession  aud 
enjo^nnent  of  any  favour  or  blessing,  tends  to  lessen,  in  some 
degree,  the  happiness  we  derive  from  it;  so  the  continued 
accession  of  new  favours,  tends  greatly  to  augment  our 
happiness.  Therefore,  as  the  Divine  perfections  are  infinite, 
and  without  end,  I  consider  it  altogether  reasonable  to  suppose, 
that  God,  in  his  unsearchable  wisdom  and  goodness,  will  con- 
tinually advance  his  dedicated  children  and  servants,  in  the 
new  enjoyments  of  his  infinite  perfection,  through  all  the 
eternal  ages. 

I  this  morning  received  thy  letter  of  the  1 0th  instant,  which 
was  also  acceptable. 

My  dear  wife  has  been  a  house-keeper  most  of  the  past 
winter  and  spring,  through  bodily  indisposition,  though  mostly 
able  to  be  about  house  ;  the  rest  of  my  family,  and  those  of 
our  children,  are  in  usual  health.  Thou  mentionest  a  little 
view  of  a  visit  to  us,  but  rather  despairs  of  eflecting  it.  But 
should  thy  health  improve,  and  way  open  for  it,  it  would  be 
very  cordial  to  us,  and  might  be  a  real  improvement  to  thy 
state  of  bodily  health. 

I  may  now  draw  to  a  close,  and,  in  much  love  and  affection 
to  thyself,  wife,  and  children,  rest  thy  sympathizing  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


AN    ESSAY 

ON    THE   BIRTH    AND   OFFICES   OF   CHRIST. 

Wisdom  is  justified  of  her  children — The  fulfilment  of  the  Law,  and  the 
Introduction  of  the  Gospel.  &c. 

The  following  prophecies  and  scripture  testimonies,  con- 
cerning Jesus  of  Nazareth,  fully  show,  that  he  was  born  of 
the  Virgin  Mary,  and  brought  up  and  educated  in  all  the 
precepts,  statutes,  and  commands  of  the  law,  given  through 
Moses  to  Israel,  by  the  pious  care  of  his  mother,  and  Joseph 
lier  husband,  and  was  subject  and  obedient  to  them  until  he 

11 


82  AN    ESSAY    ON    THE    BIRTH 

arrived  to  mair.s  estate  ;  thereby  setting  a  perfect  example  to 
children,  agreeably  to  the  requirings  of  their  law.  And,  after 
he  had  arrived  to  the  state  of  manhood,  he  entered  upon,  and 
performed,  all  the  duties  of  that  covenant,  as  a  real,  true 
Israelite  ;  fulfilling  all  the  commandments  and  ordinances  of 
their  law,  blameless  ;  by  which  he  set  a  perfect  example  to  all 
the  Israelites,  showing  them,  how  by  faithfulness  to  the  mani- 
fested will  of  the  Heavenly  Father,  and  a  right  improvement 
of  the  ability  received  from  him  for  that  end,  they  might 
likewise  have  fulfilled  all  the  ricfhteousness  thereof  as  he  had 
done.  And  by  which,  he  condemned  their  unfaithfulness  and 
hardness  of  heart ;  as  we  believe  it  is  impossible,  that  the  all- 
gracious  Creator,  should  ever  require  any  thing  of  his  rational 
creation  but  wliat  he  furnishes  them  Avith  ample  ability  to 
perform,  as  they  are  faithful  to  the  clear  manifestations  of  his 
light  in  their  own  hearts. 

The  first  Prophecy  that  appears  clear  on  this  subject,  is 
that  of  Jacob,  when  blessing  his  sons  :  "  The  sceptre  shall 
not  depart  from  .Tudah,  nor  a  law-giver  from  between  his  feet, 
until  Shiloh  come  ;  and  unto  him  shall  the  gathering  of  tlie 
people  be." — Gen.  xlix.  10.  What  an  excellent  display  of 
infinite  wisdom,  is  to  be  seen  in  the  manner  in  which  God 
hath  meted  out  his  varied  dispensations,  as  a  means  for  the 
recovery  of  liis  poor  lost  creature  man  from  the  bondage  of 
sin  and  death  ;  not  opening  two  dispensations  at  the  same 
time,  nor  a  new  one,  until  the  former  is  at  an  end.  Neither 
doth  he  require  his  servants  to  do  two  things,  or  walk  two 
ways  at  once,  although  both  are  right ;  but  every  thing  singly 
in  its  right  place  and  time,  and  this  wisely,  to  prevent  all 
confusion.  As  wliere  there  are  two  heads  of  equal  power, 
or  two  wills  to  be  satisfied,  in  a  family  or  nation,  there  will 
always  be  confusion.  And,  therefore,  the  Shiloh  of  Israel 
was  not  to  come,  until  the  outward  sceptre,  and  last  King  of 
Israel,  that  sprang  from  Judah's  loins,  should  first  pass  aAvay ; 
which  was  accomplished  in  the  death  of  Herod,  who  died  not 
long  after  the  birth  of  Jesus  ;  and  this  in  order  that  the  people 
should  have  but  one  head  to  look  to.     For,  if  there  v^^ere  two, 


AND    OFFICES    OF    CHRIST. 


83 


their  ideas  would  be  confused  ;  and  it  shows  the  correctness 
of  the  parable,  that  no  man  can  serve  two  masters. 

Tlie  second  Prophecy  is  that  of  IMoses,  confirming  the 
former :  "  The  Lord  thy  God  will  raise  up  unto  thee  a 
Prophet  from  the  midst  of  thee,  of  thy  brethren,  like  unto  me  ; 
unto  him  ye  shall  hearken."  "  I  will  raise  them  up  a  Prophet 
from  among  their  brethren,  like  unto  thee,  and  will  put  my 
words  in  his  mouth,  and  he  shall  speak  unto  them,  all  that 
I  shall  command  him." — Deut.  xviii.  15,  18.  "  Therefore  the 
Lord  hinxself  shall  give  you  a  sign ;  behold,  a  virgin  shall 
conceive  and  bear  a  son,  and  shall  call  his  name  Emanuel." — 
Isaiah,  vii.  14.  "  Behold  my  servant  whom  I  uphold,  mine 
Elect  in  whom  my  soul  delighteth  ;  I  have  put  my  spirit  upon 
him  :  he  shall  bring  forth  judgment  to  the  Gentiles." — Isaiah, 
xlii.  1.  "  Behold  my  servant  whom  I  have  chosen  ;  my 
beloved,  in  whom  my  soul  is  well  pleased ;  I  will  put  my 
spirit  upon  him:  he  shall  show  judgment  to  the  Gentiles."— 
Mat.  xii.  18.  "  Philip  findeth  Nathaniel,  and  saith  unto  him, 
we  have  found  him  of  whom  Moses  in  the  law  and  the 
Prophets  did  write,  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  son  of  Joseph." — 
John,  i.  45.  "  Ye  men  of  Israel,  hear  these  words  ;  Jesus  of 
Nazareth,  a  man  approved  of  God,  among  you,  by  miracles 
and  wonders  and  signs,  which  God  did  by  him  in  the  midst 
of  you,  as  ye  yourselves  also  know." — Acts  ii.  22. 

This  brings  us  to  the  end  of  the  outward  advent  and 
ministration  of  the  Jewish  Messiah ;  I  say  Jewish  Messiah, 
because  he  was  not  permitted  to  visit,  outwardly,  the  Gentile 
nations,  in  that  outward  nature,  in  wliich  he  was  a  complete 
Israelite,  proceeding  from  the  loins  of  Abraham  and  David,  as 
the  Scriptures  clearly  testify.  Nor  did  he  suffer  his  disciples 
to  do  it,  when  he  sent  them  forth  to  preach,  while  he  was  per- 
sonally with  them.  Which  shows  that  the  end  of  his  coming, 
agreeably  to  the  foregoing  prophecies,  was,  first,  as  a  real  Israel- 
ite, to  prove,  by  fulfilling  all  the  righteousness  of  their  out- 
ward law  and  covenant,  that  the  Lord  was  not  a  hard  master, 
by  requiring  obedience  to  the  outward  statutes  and  judgments 
that  he  had  given  them  to  perform,  and  to  put  an  end  to  that 


84 


AN    ESSAY    ON'    THE    BIRTH 


covenant,  and  do  it  away ;  as  was  effected  when  he  gave  up 
his  outward  or  bodily  Hfe  on  the  cross,  saying,  it  is  finished. 
And  secondly,  after  having  finished  the  law,  John's  water  hap- 
tism  being  the  last  ritual  he  had  to  conform  to,  he  immediately 
after  this  received  the  descendings  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God 
upon  him,  agreeably  to  the  above  prophecy  of  Isaiah,  by  which 
he  became  a  partaker  of  the  Divine  Nature  of  his  heavenly 
Father,  and  by  this  spiritual  birth,  became  the  Son  of  God 
with  power,  and  thereby  fully  qualified  for  his  Gospel  mis- 
sion, and  went  forth,  clothed  with  the  spirit  and  power  of 
God,  preaching  the  Gospel  to  the  poor.  Hence  we  see  another 
instance  of  the  consummate  wisdom  of  the  Highest,  in  send- 
ing his  beloved  Son,  qualified  only  as  a  real  and  true  Israelite, 
first  to  fulfil,  in  that  state,  all  the  righteousness  of  the  law, 
before  the  full  pouring  forth  of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  him, 
which  is  the  peculiar  privilege  of  the  Gospel  state  ;  but  which 
no  individual  is  prepared  to  receive,  until,  like  the  blessed 
,  Jesus,  he  has  fulfilled  all  the  righteousness  of  the  moral  law. 
For  had  this  full  diffusion  of  the  spirit  been  conferred  upon 
him,  while  engaged  in  the  fulfilment  of  that  outward  cove- 
nant, he  would  not  have  been  any  example  to  that  people,  as 
it  would  have  proved  that  it  required  greater  ability  than  the 
Israelites  had  received,  to  perform  the  same ;  and  thereby 
impeach  the  Lord  of  being  a  hard  master,  in  requiring  more 
than  he  had  given  them  ability  to  perform. 

But  by  withholding  this  full  diffusion  of  the  spirit,  until  he 
had  fulfilled  the  law  of  the  outAvard  covenant,  with  the  same 
ability  that  every  Israelite  had  conferred  upon  him  for  the 
same  purpose,  he  thereby  justifies  his  heavenly  Father,  and 
proves  his  impartiality  towards  the  children  of  men,  and 
stands  as  a  perfect  example,  in  that  relation,  to  all  succeeding 
ages,  who  come  to  the  knowledge  of  it.  And  then  by  the 
pouring  forth  of  his  spirit  upon  him,  he  shows  his  readiness 
to  do  the  same  to  every  other  of  his  rational  creation,  accord- 
ing to  their  several  needs,  to  enable  them  to  fulfil,  as  Jesus 
has  done,  all  the  righteousness  of  the  Gospel :  who  have  pre- 


AND    OFFICES    OP    CHRIST.  85 

vioiisly  come  up  in  the  same  way  of  faithfulness  in  fulfilling 
the  righteousness  of  the  law. 

And  when  he  had  finished  his  outward  ministration,  he 
then  gave  himself  up  to  the  power  of  his  enemies,  although 
it  was  a  very  severe  and  trying  baptism  for  his  human 
nature  to  bear,  having  a  clear  prospect  of  his  sufferings  and 
death,  saying  "  O  my  Father,  if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup 
pass  from  me :  nevertheless,  not  as  I  will,  but  as  thou  wilt." 
By  his  willing  surrender  to  his  heavenly  Father's  will,  he  has 
set  us  a  perfect  example,  that  we  should  count  nothing  too 
dear  to  surrender,  not  even  our  bodily  lives,  for  the  Gospel's 
sake  and  the  testimony  of  a  good  conscience. 

And  when  he  had  sealed  his  testimony  with  his  blood,  out- 
wardly, he  was  raised  up  again,  by  the  power  of  God,  and 
showed  himself  to  his  disconsolate  disciples,  who  were  now 
witnessing  the  fast  he  had  foretold  them  of.  Mat.  ix.  15 
Mark  ii.  19,  20.  And  after  having  several  times  shown  him- 
self to  them,  and  instructed  them  further  in  those  things 
relating  to  the  Gospel  dispensation,  he  left  them  his  farewell 
command,  to  tarry  at  the  city  of  Jerusalem,  until  they  should 
receive  power  from  on  high,  "  For  John,"  says  he,  "  truly 
baptized  with  water  ;  but  ye  shall  be  baptized  with  the  Holy 
Ghost,  not  many  days  hence."  "  But  ye  shall  receive  power 
after  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  come  upon  you :  and  ye  shall" 
then,  but  not  till  then,  "  be  witnesses  unto  me  both  in  Jeru- 
salem and  in  all  Judea,  and  in  Samaria,  and  unto  the  utter- 
most parts  of  the  earth." 

Hence  we  have  the  example  and  testimony  of  .Tesus  Christ 
and  his  disciples ;  who  never  attempted  to  preach  the  Gospel 
until  they  had  received  the  Holy  Ghost,  to  prove  that  nothing 
short  of  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  immediately  received,  ever 
did,  or  ever  can  qualify  any  man  to  preach  the  Gospel. 
Therefore,  if  any  undertake  to  do  it,  without  this  qualifica- 
tion, they  ought  all  to  be  considered  as  intruders,  and  minis- 
ters of  Anti-Christ. 

For  it  is  '•  not  by  might,  nor  by  power,"  that  depend  upon 
the  associations  or  wisdom  and  science  of  men.  nor  yet  by 


m 


LETTER  TO 


their  money,  though  the  professed  ministers  of  Christendom, 
who  preacli  for  hire  and  divine  for  money,  seem  to  consider 
the  latter  the  principal  thing  by  which  the  Gospel  and  King- 
dom of  peace  is  to  be  exalted  and  advanced  in  the  earth,  "  but 
by  my  Spirit,  saith  the  Lord  ;"  that  is,  by  the  little  stone  that 
Nebuchadnezzar  saw  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands, 
viz.  without  the  help,  the  power,  the  wisdom,  or  contrivance 
of  any  man,  or  any  associations  of  men.  And  this  little 
stone,  that  brake  in  pieces,  that  mighty  image  that  Nebuchad- 
nezzar saw  in  his  dream,  was  not  cut  out,  nor  sent  into  the 
world,  until  all  the  outward  Kingdoms  that  God  had  set  up 
and  finished  had  come  to  an  end  ;  then,  in  the  fulness  of  time, 
he  came  to  effect  the  glorious  end  of  doing  away,  and  utterly 
destroying,  all  the  Kingdoms  of  the  world,  that  man  sets  up  in 
his  own  wisdom  and  power,  for  his  own  glory  and  aggrand- 
izement. 

Take  it  in  the  prophet's  words.  Daniel  ii.  44,  45,  "  And  in 
the  days  of  these  kings,  shall  the  God  of  Heaven  set  up  a 
Kingdom,  which  shall  never  be  destroyed  ;  and  the  Kingdom 
shall  not  be  left  to  other  people,"  that  is,  not  to  those  who 
would  make  use  of  it  to  their  own  glory  and  aggrandizement, 
"  but  it  shall  break  in  pieces  and  consume  all  these  Kingdoms, 
and  it  shall  stand  for  ever.  Forasmuch  as  thou  sawest  that 
the  stone  was  cut  out  of  the  mountain  without  hands,  and  that 
it  brake  in  pieces  the  iron,  the  brass,  the  clay,  the  silver,  and 
the  gold  ;  the  Great  God  hath  made  known  to  the  king,  what 
shall  come  to  pass  hereafter  ;  and  the  dream  is  certain,  and 
the  interpretation  thereof  sure." 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  1th  mo.  llh,  1821. 
Dear  Friend,  • 

Thy  acceptable  letter  of  the  10th  ult.  was  duly  received, 
and  the  information  it  contained  of  the  continued  improve- 
ment of  tliy  liealth,  was  very  satisfactory ;  although  it  also 


WILLIAM    POOLE. 


87 


contained  some  alloy,  by  stating  the  indisposition  thy  wife  has 
lately  experienced — bnt  it  was  grateful  to  hear  she  was  better. 
And  seeing  this  is  allotted  to  all  mortals,  in  passing  through 
this  checkered  scene,  I  know  of  no  way  better  for  us.  than 
continually  to  endeavour  quietly  to  submit,  and  cheerfully  to 
acquiesce  in  the  allotments  of  a  Gracious  Providence,  who 
certainly  Imows  what  is  best  for  his  creatures ;  and  does  not 
afflict  willingly  nor  grieve  the  children  of  men,  but  designs 
that  all  his  dispensations,  hoAvever  various,  shall  work  together 
for  their  real  good,  and  will  accomplish  his  design  to  all  those 
who  love  him  and  keep  his  commandments. 

Therefore,  it  behooves  us,  at  all  times,  to  endeavour  to  be 
in  the  condition  in  which  we  can  continually  thank  God  and 
take  courage,  for  this  is  well  pleasing  to  him. 

The  account  of  the  burning  of  my  son-in-law's  barn  by  light- 
ning, was  correct.  It  being  a  providential  circumstance,  was 
quietly  acquiesced  in  ;  and  especially  when  we  consider,  that 
had  it  not  been  for  the  heavy  rain  that  fell  at  the  time,  there  is 
no  doubt  but  that  his  house  and  mine,  together  with  all  my  other 
buildings,  must  have  fallen  a  sacrifice  to  the  devouring  flames  ; 
as  the  wind  sat  directly  to  them,  and  they  were  for  some  time 
almost  continually  more  or  less  covered,  as  I  was  informed  by 
those  present,  with  large  flakes  of  fire ;  but  the  rain  falling  so 
fast,  they  did  not  kindle  so  as  to  do  any  damage.  It  hap- 
pened when  we  were  from  home,  attending  our  yearly 
meeting. 

I  also  received  the  papers  thou  alludest  to,  and  I  am  really 
astonished  at  the  ignorance  and  weakness  of  the  individual 
who,  under  the  signature  of  Paul,  has  made  a  public  attack 
upon  our  Society,  and  especially  when  we  consider  the  man- 
ner of  his  movements,  in  his  fourth  number.  In  reply  to 
Amicus,  he  says,  "  To  his  essay  I  have  the  same  objection,  as 
to  the  Society  of  which  he  is  a  member.  He  makes  too  much 
of  little  things ;  is  employed,  like  the  Pharisees  of  old,  in 
tything  mint,  anise,  and  cummin,  and  has  omitted  the  weigh- 
tier matters  of  the  law :"  but  what  these  weightier  matters  of 
the  law  are,  he  omits  telling  us,  because  they  are  directly  in 


OS  LETTER    TO 

opposition  to  his  purpose.  And  therefore,  after  passing  on  a 
httle,  he  brings  in  his  substitutes  for  them.  And  what  are 
they  ?  Why,  nothing  more  or  less,  than  two  mere,  old,  Avorn- 
out,  antiquated  ceremonies  of  the  Jewish  law,  water  baptism 
and  the  Jewish  Passover,  which  he  seems  to  put  in  place 
of  justice,  mercy,  and  faith,  the  principal  essential  things,  both 
of  Law  and  Gospel.  But  what  sul)tevfuges  will  hirelings  flee 
to,  to  support  their  hire  !  for  in  the  beginning  of  his  cata- 
logue of  non-essentials,  (that  nevertheless  seem  uppermost  in 
his  mind,)  is  this :  "  Whether  tlie  ministry  be  supported  by 
previous  or  subsequent,  by  express  or  implied  contract." 
These  he  supposes  parallel  with  the  Jews'  tithing  mint,  anise, 
and  cummin  ;  and  although  it  may  be  non-essential  to  him, 
which  of  those  ways  is  substituted,  provided  his  pay  for 
preaching  is  secured  to  him ;  yet,  let  us  suppose  that  none 
of  those  ways  were  substituted  to  ensure  the  wages  of  the 
hireling ;  would  he  then  consider  it  non-essential  whether 
he  was  paid  or  not,  and  was  left  to  the  necessity  of  preaching 
freely,  as  Jesus  commanded,  and  as  he  and  his  discigles  prac- 
tised ?  1  apprehend  he  would  then  consider  it  essential, as  I 
do  tything  of  mint,  anise,  and  cmnmin,  in  the  days  of  the 
outward  advent  of  Jesus  Christ :  even  more  essential  than 
what  he  calls,  though  very  untruly,  the  sealing  ordinances  of 
the  Gospel,  viz.  water  baptism,  and  the  partaking  of  a  little 
bread  and  Avine,  corporeal  things,  that  many  wicked  men  par- 
take of  in  abundance  to  their  own  hurt.  And  yet  I  fear  that 
many  of  those  who  partake  of  them  in  a  ceremonial  way,  as 
a  religious  act,  are  really  injured  by  it,  as  it  keeps  them  under 
bondage  to  ignorance  and  superstition,  and  therefore  becomes 
wounding  to  their  immortal  souls. 

The  plain  grammatical  language  of  thee  and  thou,  to  a  sin- 
gle person,  being  the  only  correct  and  plain  language  of  truth 
and  of  the  Scriptures,  I  deem  much  more  essential  than  water 
baptism,  or  the  partaking  of  bread  and  wine  in  a  ceremonial 
way. 

First,  It  is  the  only  language  of  plain  truth,  and  the  holy 
men  of  old  use  it  tln-ougliout  the  ScripUires,  winch  1  consider 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  89 

an  unequivocal  testimony  of  its  essentiality:  because  it  is 
contrary  to  the  reason  and  nature  of  things  to  suppose  that 
they  should  have  always  thus  kept  to  it,  had  they  not  thought 
it  essential. 

Secondly,  I  have  found  it  to  be  the  testimony,  may  I  not 
say  the  undeviating  testimony,  of  every  class  of  Christian 
professors  I  have  ever  conversed  with,  that  water  baptism, 
and  what  is  called  the  Supper,  are  non-essentials.  And  they 
say,  moreover,  tliat  they  do  not  make  use  of  them  as  things 
essential ;  and  allow  that  those  Avho  do  not  use  them,  ma^r  be 
effectually  saved  without  them,  if  they  attend  to  those  things 
that  are  essential,  viz.  justice,  mercy,  and  faith. 

And  I  further  assert,  that  the  tything  of  mint,  anise,  and 
cumiuin,  under  the  Jewish  dispensation,  was  much  more  essen- 
tial to  that  people,  than  water  baptism,  or  the  ceremony  of  the 
Supper,  is  to  the  Christian ;  as  they  can  bear  no  other  compa- 
rison than  that  the  first  was  essential,  and  the  latter  is  non- 
essential. And  when  .Tesus  Christ  reprehended  the  scribes 
and  Pliarisees,  for  tything  mint,  &c.,  it  was  not  because  it  was 
non-essential  to  them,  but  because  they  preferred  the  shadow 
to  the  substance  ;  which  the  closing  paragraph  on  that  subject 
clearly  proves,  viz.  "  These  ought  ye  to  have  done,  and  not  to 
leave  the  other  undone."     Matt,  xxiii.  23. 

And  I  have  often  been  surjDrised  at  the  ignorance  of  many 
of  the  advocates  for  water  baptism,  in  their  bringing  forward 
the  apostle  Paul,  as  a  witness  on  its  behalf;  seeing  he  has  left 
on  record  such  a  plain  and  imequivocal  testimony  against  the 
use  of  it.  '•  I  thank  God  that  I  baptized  none  of  you  but 
Crispus  and  Gains ;  lest  any  should  say  that  I  had  baptized 
in  mine  own  name.  And  I  baptized  also  the  household  of 
Stephanus  :  besides,  I  know  not  whetlier  I  baptized  any  other. 
For  Christ  sent  me  not  to  baptize,  but  to  preach  the  Gospel : 
not  with  wisdom  of  words,  lest  the  cross  of  Christ  should  be 
made  of  none  effect."     1  Cor.  i.  14,  15,  16,  17. 

Now  if  it  be  as  Paul  declares,  that  Christ  sent  him  not  to 
baptize,  how  can  any  real  or  pretended  minister  of  the  Gospel 
presume  that  he  has  any  commission  therefor.     As  I  under- 

12 


90 


LETTER    TO 


Stand,  they  found  their  principal  authority  for  baptizing  with 
water,  on  the  19th  verse  of  28th  chapter  of  Matthew.  And 
if  that  command  is  considered  to  have  binding  authority  on 
any  one  of  the  ministers  of  Christ's  Gospel,  it  must  certainly 
be  binding  on  every  other,  as  it  comprehended  all  his  disci- 
ples. Hence  if  any  one  of  his  ministers  is  brought  under  a 
binding  obligation,  from  that  command,  to  baptize  with  water, 
every  other  must  lie  under  the  like  obligation,  and.  of  course. 
Paul  among  the  rest ;  who  nevertheless  assures  us,  he  was 
under  no  such  obligation,  and  manifested  his  sorrow  for  having 
spent  the  little  time  he  did,  about  such  a  non-essential  thing  : 
believing,  no  doubt,  as  I  do,  that  it  is  impossible  that  a  wise 
and  holy  God  should  at  any  time  command  his  rational  crea- 
ture, man,  to  do  a  non-essential  act,  as  it  would  cast  an  indig- 
nity upon  his  Divine  character. 

I  furtlier  note  what  thou  observes  of  my  being  attacked  on 
every  side,  by  the  advocates  of  Bible  and  Missionary  Socie- 
ties, and  a  hireling  ministry.  I  freely  acknowledge  it  is  so. 
and  was  this  all  I  had  to  suffer,  I  should  account  it  a  very 
light  thing.  But  I  have  been  assailed  by  those  of  our  own 
household,  and  that  without  any  reasonable  cause  ;  and  even 
some  with  whom,  in  days  past,  I  have  taken  sweet  counsel ; 
but  who,  by  dwelling  on  back  groiuid,  have  too  much  settled 
on  their  lees :  and  when  any  are  called  to  advance  reforma- 
tion, and  exalt,  truth's  testimony  over  tradition  and  error, 
they  cry  out  novelty!  and  schism  !  and  seem  disposed,  unless 
these  settle  down  with  them  on  their  beds  of  ease,  and  rest  in 
the  labours  of  those  who  have  gone  before,  to  prepare  war 
against  them,  and  persecute  them,  a.>  did  the  priests  and  rulers 
in  Israel  formerly  persecute  and  kill  their  prophets,  and  even 
Jesus  Christ.  And  no  doubt,  as  these  rise  up,  in  the  same 
spirit,  in  the  present  day,  to  oppose  the  progress  of  truth,  they 
will  as  effectually,  in  a  spiritual  sense,  kill  the  prophets,  as  the 
Jews  did  theirs  outwardly,  that  is,  they  will  so  discourage  and 
block  up  the  way  of  the  Lord's  messengers  among  the  people, 
by  their  opposition,  as  to  cause  ihein  to  cease  from  their 
lahnnrSj  seeing  no  way  to  go  forward:  for  tlie  time  appears  to 


'  WILLIAM    POOLE.  V 

have  come,  long  since  spoken  of,  when  men  ''•  will  not  endure 
sound  doctrine,"  and  even  is  come  home  to  us,  in  this  favoured 
Society,  and  '•  if  they  do  these  things  in  a  green  tree,  what 
shall  be  done  in  the  dry  ?"  Is  it  not  with  us,  as  it  was  witli 
the  Lord's  people  formerly,  when  the  prophet  was  led  thus  to 
exclaim,  "  Let  the  priests,  the  ministers  of  the  Lord,  weep 
between  the  poreli  and  the  altar,  and  let  them  say,  Spare  thy 
people,  O  Lord,  and  give  not  thy  heritage  to  rejjroach,  that 
the  heathen  should  rule  over  them:  wherefore  should  they 
say  among  the  people,  where  is  their  God?"     Joel  ii.  17. 

I  must  now  draw  to  a  close,  lest  my  letter  should  be  too 
long  and  tedious  ;  and  as  the  time  is  near  at  hand  for  the  mail 
to  close,  I  have  no  time  to  copy,  therefore  please  to  excuse  the 
errors  that  may  occur,  as  I  send  the  first  draft. 

With  love  to  you  all,  I  rest  thy  sympathizing  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM   POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  I2th  mo.  2&th,  1821. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Thy  letter  of  10th  mo.  and  that  of  12th  mo.  1st,  are  now 
before  me.  I  have  read  them  with  satisfaction  and  interest, 
several  different  times,  and  with  a  view  to  have  answered 
them  ere  now ;  but  before  I  set  pen  to  paper  something 
has  intervened,  which  diverted  me  from  it  until  the  present 
time. 

I  conclude  my  last  letter  to  thee  has  miscarried,  as  thou 
hast  not  noted  the  reception  of  it,  and  as  I  seldom  have  time 
to  copy  my  letters,  I  do  not  now  remember  the  time  of  its 
date. 

In  regard  to  the  controversy  between  Paul  and  Amicus, 
I  am  willing  to  say  to  the  latter,  I  wish  him  good  speed,  and 
that  Paul,  according  to  my  judgment,  has  gained  no  advantage 
over  him ;  but  on  the  contrary,  doubt  not,  as  Amicus  keeps  a 
single  eye  to  the  right  director,  he  will  maintain  and  advance 


92  LETTER    TO 

tlie  cause  of  truth.  And  I  am  led  to  hope,  that  through  this 
and  some  other  hke  controversial  investigations,  now  going 
on  with  us  and  in  some  other  places,  that  some  of  the  main 
pillars  of  anti-christ's  kingdom  will  be  shaken  to  their  very 
base. 

I  remember  in  one  of  thy  former  communications,  thou 
mentioned  hearing  of  some  dissension  among  Friends  in  New 
England,  and  requested,  if  I  was  in  possession  of  the  cause, 
I  would  inform  thee  of  it.  And  although  I  have  made  inquiry 
at  different  times  in  regard  thereto,  I  have  not  found  any 
thing  worthy  of  notice,  so  far  as  to  trouble  thee  with  it ;  but 
thy  request  at  the  present  time  being  brought  to  remembrance, 
I  felt  a  freedom  to  mention  two  circumstances  that,  I  believe, 
have  given  occasion  for  a  diversity  of  sentiment  among  some 
Friends  in  the  east,  and  which,  I  apprehend,  they  have  suf- 
fered to  rise  too  high,  for  wa,nt  of  abiding  in  the  everlasting 
patience. 

The  first  was  occasioned  by  a  new  member,  who  had.  at 
his  request,  been  admitted  into  Society.  He  was  one  who 
stood  high  in  a  political  point  of  view  among  the  people, 
having  filled  several  high  offices,  both  in  the  civil  and  military 
department,  in  pretty  early  life ;  but  being  made  sensible  of 
the  impropriety  of  those  things,  and  the  inconsistency  of  such 
a  course  of  life  with  the  precepts  of  the  Gospel,  he  made  a 
full  and  pretty  sudden  surrender  of  all  his  worldly  honours 
and  offices,  and  turned  his  attention  towards  Friends,  and 
soon  became  a  member,  and  not  long  after  began  to  speak  in 
public  meetings,  and  was  pretty  well  approved  by  some  Friends 
of  the  foremost  class  :  some  others  were  fearful  he  was  run- 
ning too  fast,  and  for  want  of  prudence  they  manifested  their 
dilTerent  views  to  him,  which  raised  a  jealousy  in  his  mind 
towards  those  he  considered  as  his  opposers,  which  tended 
very  much  to  break  the  unity  in  several  of  their  meetings. 
Before  this  disturbance  subsided,  the  other  made  its  ap- 
pearance, which  was  in  this  wise  :  A  certain  young  man^ 
whom  the  Presbyterian  association  had  admitted  into  one  of 
their  seminaries  of  learning  near  Providence,  in  order  to  be 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  93 

educated  for  the  ministry,  on  the  charity  funds  of  the  society 
under  their  control,  as  I  have  understood  ;  having-  his  eyes 
opened  to  see  the  inconsistency  of  their  doctrines,  he  left  them 
and  turned  his  attention  towards  Friends,  and  occasionally 
attended  their  meetings,  and  manifested  a  very  orderly  and 
sober  life.  Apprehending  it  right  to  inform  his  old  friends  of 
the  reasons  for  leaving  them,  he  took  up  his  pen  and  in  a 
pamphlet,  which  he  styled  the  Celestial  Magnet,  gave  them 
his  reasons,  founded  on  scripture  testimony,  and  showed  that 
the  Divine  light  in  the  soul  of  man  is  a  sure  guide  and 
sufficient  teacher  in  the  way  of  salvation,  without  the  necessity 
of  any  other  means,  as  man  gives  up  in  full  obedience  thereto. 
This  gave  great  umbrage  to  his  old  friends.  In  addition  to 
this,  he  wrote  four  other  pamphlets  under  the  same  signature  ; 
all  which,  through  the  kindness  of  a  friend,  I  had  the  oppor- 
tunity of  reading. 

The  first  and  the  third,  I  considered  to  manifest  pretty  clear 
evidence  that  his  mind,  in  a  degree,  had  been  divinely  opened. 
Hi?  second  number,  as  I  had  but  a  slight  opportunity  of  con- 
sidering it^  I  have  entirely  forgot  tlie  contents  of;  but  his 
fourth  and  fifth  numbers  I  should  have  been  much  better 
pleased  if  they  had  never  been  written.  These  pamphlets 
have  also  been  a  bone  of  contention  among  some  Friends,  not 
only  in  the  east,  but  even  among  some  this  way ;  which,  in 
a  clear  manner,  evidences  the  exceeding  weak  state  of  our 
Society. 

Neither  of  these  cases,  I  conceive,  was  of  moment  sufficient 
to  unsettle  the  minds  of  Friends ;  the  latter  especially.  The 
young  man  not  being  a  member,  Friends  were  not  amenable 
for  his  conduct,  and  he  in  no  wise  accountable  to  them.  And 
yet,  some  Friends  have  let  themselves  out  against  him  in  a 
very  harsh  manner,  setting  him  down  publicly  as  a  deist,  and 
his  book  a  deistical  performance  and  a  very  pernicious  one. 
Some  of  these  have  never  seen  him  or  his  book,  but  are 
altogether  acting  on  mere  hearsay,  which  I  consider  a  stain 
upon  Society.  If  I  should  meet  with  the  first  and  third  num- 
bers, I  intend  to  forward  them  f^r  thy  perusal. 


94 


LETTER    TO 


Some  thing's,  that  have  been  subjects  of  our  former  com- 
munications, have  caused  me  considerable  exercise,  by  the 
opposition  I  have  met  with  from  some,  who  may  be  accounted 
wise  in  their  own  eyes.  Such  as  that  of  Heaven  being  a  state 
and  not  a  place  ;  and  also  the  Garden  of  Eden  being  a  state 
and  condition  of  the  soul,  in  union  and  communion  with  its 
Maker,  rather  than  a  mere  local  spot  on  the  surface  of  this 
earth  ;  and  that  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth  being  a  real  and  true 
man,  and  placed  in  a  state  of  probation  as  we  are,  having  our 
real  and  true  nature,  as  to  his  manhood^  and  tempted  in  all 
points  as  we  are,  yet  by  his  faithfulness  to  his  Heavenly  Father 
he  overcame  every  temptation  and  lived  free  from  sin,  and 
by  the  pouring  forth  of  the  divine  spirit  upon  him,  and  he 
uniting  with  it,  he  became  a  partaker  of  the  divine  nature, 
and  was  born  of  God,  and  was  then  the  Son  of  God  with 
power :  as  no  created  being  can  be,  strictly  speaking,  a  son 
of  God,  but  by  being  born  of  the  spirit  of  God. 

But  spirit  and  corporeal  matter  cannot  unite  together  and 
produce  a  birth  ;  but  the  spirit  of  God  can  command  matter 
and  create  material  substances,  such  as  an  animal  man,  (fcc. ; 
as  in  the  case  of  the  blessed  Jesus.  But  a  real  son  of  God  is 
only  produced  by  a  union  of  the  spirit  of  God  with  the  rational 
spirit  of  man  ;  as  these  are  united  in  marriage  covenant,  there 
is  a  birth  brought  forth  :  this  is  the  new  birth  that  Jesus  spake 
of  to  Nicodemus,  and  this  is  that  which  is  born  of  God,  and 
cannot  sin,  as  saith  the  apostle,  "  Whosoever  is  born  of  God 
doth  not  commit  sin,  for  his  seed  remaineth  in  him ;  and  he 
cannot  sin,  because  he  is  born  of  God."  This  is  that  son  that 
knoweth  the  father,  as  Jesus  Christ  said.  This  is  the  Christ, 
or  Son  of  God,  that  Paul  travailed  in  birth,  or  in  prayer,  that 
he  might  be  formed  in  the  souls  of  his  newly  converted 
children.  This  is  that  child  born,  and  son  given,  that  the 
prophet  speaks  of,  and  which  is  born  in  every  converted  soul, 
and  upon  whose  shoulders  the  government  rests ;  and  here 
now  is  known  the  wonderful  Counsellor,  the  mighty  God,  the 
everlasting  Father,  and  Prince  of  Peace.  Here  it  is  that  the 
Father  and  the  Son  are  one,  and  now  it  is  that  the  Son 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  95 

becomes  the  head  of  all  principalities  and  powers,  thrones 
and  dominions,  and  having  conquered  all,  even  death,  the  last 
enemy,  the  Son  surrenders  all  up  to  the  Father,  and  God 
becomes  all  in  all.  All  this  must  be  known,  and  is  known,  in 
every  truly  redeemed  and  completely  saved  soul.  Here  it  is 
that  God  only  reigns,  and  all  the  hosts  of  Heaven  are  made 
to  rejoice  with  this  holy  anthem,  without  any  corporeal  jar 
or  noise,  "  Alleluia,  for  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigueth." 
Here  we  are  brought  to  understand  Paul,  where  he  says, 
"  Wherefore,  henceforth  know  we  no  man  after  the  flesh : 
yea,  though  we  have  known  Christ  after  the  flesh,  yet  now 
henceforth  know  we  him  no  more."  All  external  evidences 
are  at  an  end,  by  the  revelation  of  the  Father,  by  and  through 
the  Son,  or  this  new  birth  of  the  spirit  of  God  in  the  soul  of 
man,  M^hich  knows  and  calls  God,  Father,  and  is  in  unity  and 
oneness  with  him.  Here  the  mystery  of  our  salvation  is 
opened  by  the  pure,  unchangeable  light  in  the  soul,  and 
oecomes  as  self-evident  as  the  most  plain  and  simple  truth,  on 
which  the  soul  rests  with  entire  confidence,  as  on  a  rock  that 
cannot  be  shaken ;  against  which,  Jesus  said,  "  the  gates  of 
lell  shall  not  prevail.'" 

I  should  like  to  have  thy  views  on  the  foregoing  subjects, 
A^hen  opportunity  offers. 

In  love  to  thee  and  thine,  I  rest  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


'^6  LETTER    TO 


TO    WILLIAM    WHARTON. 

Jericho,  1st  mo.  Wh,  1822. 
Dbab  Friend, 

Thine  of  last  month  was  duly  received  and  was  very  accept- 
able. It  is,  as  thou  justly  observes,  a  day  of  much  inquiry, 
and  happy  would  it  be  for  them  did  the  members  of  our  highly 
professing  society  keep  a  single  eye  to  our  foundation  princi 
pie.  the  light  within,  and  walk  agreeably  to  its  dictates,  and 
cease  from  all  speculation  and  disputation  on  nonessentials, 
which  comprehend  every  thing  that  has  no  other  foundation 
of  belief  than  external  evidence,  which  never  did,  nor  ever  can 
give  a  true  and  living  faith  in  God,  nor  manifest  to  us  his  will 
relating  to  the  salvation  of  the  soul ;  for  this  is  reserved  as  the 
sole  privilege  of  the  light  within,  or  spirit  of  truth,  which 
teacheth  us  all  things  that  we  need  to  know  in  the  Avay  and 
work  of  our 'salvation  ;  and  as  we  obey  him  he  leadeth  into 
all  truth,  and  is  the  only  infallible  teacher.  And  all  those 
wiio  v/alk  by  this  light  are  delivered  from  all  the  bonds  and 
shackles  of  tradition  and  superstition,  and  place  no  dependance 
on  any  outward  sacrifices. or  offerings,  not  even  on  the  offer- 
ing of  Jesus  Christ  on  the  outward  wooden  cross,  except  as 
an  example  of  faithfulness  to  the  requirings  of  divine  truth  ; 
being  strengthened  and  encouraged  thereby  to  surrender  our 
lives  as  a  willing  offering  to  God,  as  he  did,  rather  than  balk 
our  testimony  to  his  truth.  Were  the  members  of  our  Society 
generally  brought  into  this  state,  it  might  then  be  said  oi 
us  as  Jesus  said  of  his  disciples,  "  Ye  are  the  light  of  the 
world,''  and  others  seeing  our  jiood  works,  would  have  cause 
on  our  behalf  to  glorify  our  Heavenly  Father  ;  but  a  state  very 
dissimilar  to  this,  I  fear,  is  more  consonant  with  our  present 
state,  even  like  that  the  apostle  expressed  concerning  Israel, 
that  blindness  in  part  had  happened  to  them ;  for  many,  yea, 
very  many  of  our  society  appear  to  be  little  more  than  tradi- 
tional members,  being  very  void  of  any  right  sense  of  true 
spiritual  religion,  and    doating  about  names  and  historical 


WILLIAM    WHARTON.  97 

testimonies,  which  never  can  produce  that  true  and  Hving 
faith  that  works  by  Love  to  the  purifying  of  the  heart ;  which 
is  the  gift  of  God,  created  in  the  soul  of  man  by  his  faithfully 
attending  to  the  teachings  of  his  grace  or  light  within,  and  by 
nothing  else.  But  many  among  us,  for  want  of  a  right  and  en- 
tire dependance  on  this  guide,  are  too  much  settling  in  a  form 
of  godliness,  without  experiencing  the  power  thereof  to  raise 
them  out  of  their  traditional  death.  These  are  as  dead 
weights,  that  greatly  hinder  the  progress  of  right  reformation  ; 
and  are  in  the  same  spirit  with  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  of 
old,  ready  to  rise  up  in  opposition  to  every  right  and  necessary 
step  for  promoting  the  righteous  cause  of  truth  in  the  earth. 
These  are  such  as  cry  out  "  lieresy,"  against  those  whom  the 
Lord  is  raising  up  and  qualifying  by  his  grace  to  advance  liis 
kingdom  of  peace  and  righteousness  in  the  earth,  branding 
them  with  the  degrading  epithet  of  being  the  disturbers  of  the 
church's  peace,  whilst  the  beam  is  in  their  own  eye. 
In  love  I  conclude,  thy  friend. 

ELLIS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    WHARTON. 

Jericho,  2d  mo.  IQth,  1822. 
My  Dear  Friends  William  &  D.  F.  Wharton, 

Dear  D's.  very  acceptable  letter  of  the  3d  instant  was  duly 
received.  Your  opening  this  medium  of  correspondence  is 
truly  grateful  to  my  best  feelings,  as  my  sympathy  is  often 
strongly  excited  with  and  toward  the  youth  and  younger 
members  of  our  Society,  attended  with  a  hope  that,  through 
the  poAverful  influence  of  divine  love,  and  the  inspirings  of 
divine  light  in  their  minds,  many  of  them  will  be  strengthened, 
as  they  are  faithful  thereunto,  to  break  asunder  the  strong 
bands  of  tradition  and  education,,  under  the  implicit  leading 
of  which  our  poor  Society  has  been  doing  little  more  for  a 
century  past  than,  like  Israel  of  old,  encompassing  a  moun- 
tain in  the  wilderness,  without  making  any  advancement. 

13 


98  LETTER  TO 

And  -as  what  was  written  aforetime  was  written  for  our 
learning,  let  not  my  young  friends  be  dismayed,  although 
they  should  see  but  here  and  there  one  of  their  elderly  friends 
who  are  enough  alive  in  the  travel  to  lead  the  way  for  them, 
when  the  command  is  heard  in  the  camp,  go  forward,  for  ye 
have  tarried  long  enough  in  this  mountain.  Seeing  that 
among  the  thousands  of  Israel,  none  but  their  leader,  Moses, 
and  good  Joshua  and  Caleb,  were  prepared  to  go  forth  and 
lead  the  youthful  army ;  the  rest  died  in  the  place  where  they 
were,  just  going  the  round  of  former  experience. 

I  noticed  the  addition  to  your  little  family,  and,  if  consistent 
with  Divine  Wisdom,  may  it  increase  to  many  more,  and  by 
your  faithfulness  to  the  pointings  of  truth,  may  they  be  brought 
up  in  the  nurture  and  admonition  of  the  Lord,  and  grow  up 
like  olive  plants  about  your  table :  then  will  they  be  a  bless- 
ing and  a  crown  to  you. 

Except  my  wife  and  myself,  who  are  more  and  more  feeling 
the  infirmities  of  age  increasing  upon  us,  M^ith  some  attendant 
bodily  pains,  which  nevertheless  does  not  hinder  our  being 
about  amongst  our  friends,  all  the  branches  of  our  family 
are  in  usual  health. 

Please  to  present  my  love  to  your  father,  my  truly  valued 
friend,  S.  R.  Fisher ;  to  your  sister  Sarah  and  brother 
Thomas  ;  and  with  a  large  share  to  yourselves,  I  conclude 
aifectionately,  your  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM   POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  Uh  mo.  8th,  1822. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Thine  of  the  3d  ult.  was  duly  received,  and  is  now  before 

me :  I  have  perused  it  several  times.     It  came  to  hand  in  a 

favourable  time  to  excite  my  sympathy,  as  I  was  then  and  for 

some  time   after,  under   very  considerable   bodily  afliiction. 

Add  to  that,  the  many  false  reports  and  unjust  insinuations 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  99 

that  have  been  spread  concerning  me.  I  have  been  slandered, 
reviled,  and  defamed,  by  pulpit,  press,  and  talk,  not  only  by 
open  opposers,  but  also  by  some  more  privately,  who  profess 
to  be  my  friends,  terming  me  a  deist,  a  seducer,  socinian,  uni- 
tarian, denying  the  divinity  of  Christ  the  Saviour,  and.  what 
not.  And  all  because  I  have  faithfully  and  honestly  borne 
testimony  against  those  false  and  unscriptural,  though  gene- 
rally acknowledged  and  applauded  doctrines,  of  one  God  sub- 
sisting in  three  distinct  and  separate  persons  ;  the  impossibility 
of  God's  pardoning  sinners  without  a  plenary  satisfaction ; 
and  the  justification  of  impure  persons  by  an  imputative 
righteousness,  «fcc. 

That  which,  as  I  am  informed,  is  the  principal  reason  of 
the  great  noise  which  hath  sounded  in  so  many  ears  of  late, 
is,  my  denying  the  divinity  of  Christ,  and  divesting  him  of  his 
eternal  God-head,  which  has  been  most  busily  suggested,  as 
well  as  maliciously  insinuated  among  the  people ;  but  which 
is  one  of  the  greatest  falsehoods  that  the  malicious  spirit  of 
the  slanderer  ever  fabricated.  The  Proverbs,  which  as  most 
agree  intend  Christ  the  Saviour,  speak  in  this  manner,  (viii. 
15,  20,  23) ;  "  By  me  kings  reign,  and  princes  decree  justice." 
"  I  (wisdom)  lead  in  the  way  of  righteousness ;  in  the  midst 
of  the  paths  of  judgment,  I  was  set  up  from  everlasting."  To 
which  Paul  alludes,  (1  Cor.  i.  24),  "Unto  them  which  are 
called,"  we  preach  "  Christ  the  power  of  God,  and  the  wisdom 
of  God."  Which  doctrine,  thousands  can  bear  me  witness,  I 
have  often  held  forth  and  urged  on  my  hearers,  in  my  public 
communications,  and  from  whence  I  conclude,  that  if  Christ 
is  the  power  of  God,  and  wisdom  of  God,  then  certainly 
Christ  the  Saviour  is  God,  in  as  much  as  it  is  impossible 
God's  power  and  wisdom  should  be  distinct  or  divided  from 
himself :  Therefore  Christ  is  not  distinct  from  God,  but 
entirely  that  same  God,  and  which  the  Evangelist  also 
asserts  concerning  Christ,  the  word,  that  was  in  the  beginning 
with  God  and  was  God. 

David  and  Isaiah  speak  thus  :  "  The  Lord  is  my  light  and 
my  salvation  :" — "  I  will  also  give  thee  for  a  lighf  to  the  Gen- 


100  LETTER    TO ' 

tiles  ;"  and  to  the  Church,  he  says, — For  "  the  Lord  shall  be 
unto  thee  an  everlasting  light."  From  which  plain  testimo- 
nies, I  assert  the  unity  of  God  and  Christ ;  although  nomi- 
nally distinguished,  yet  essentially  the  same  Divine  light ;  and 
I  have  ever  believed  that  the  divinity  of  God  and  of  Christ 
are  one — but  I  do  not  belieA^e  in  two  divinities. 

The  foregoing,  thou  will  observe,  is  mostly  taken  from 
"  Innocency  with  her  open  face,"  written  by  William  Penn, 
who,  in  stating  his  own  case  and  sentiments,  has  clearly 
described  mine. 

I  will  now  return  to  thy  letter,  and  in  near  sympathy  and 
fellow  feeling  with  thee,  in  thy  present  exercises  and  tribula- 
tions, and  in  order  for  thy  encouragement,  inform  thee  of  my 
place  of  retreat  and  sure  refuge,  in  times  of  trouble;  when  the 
old  accuser  lays  close  siege  to  me,  in  order  to  raise  in  me,  if  pos- 
sible, a  spirit  of  murmuring,  that  he  might  lead  me  to  despair 
of  the  never-failing  mercies  of  our  all-sufficient  Helper.  In 
order  to  blunt  the  sharpest  darts  of  the  enemy,  I  enter  into  a 
close  and  inward  investigation  of  my  deepest  sufferings,  to 
know,  with  clearness,  whether  they  are  real  or  only  imagi- 
nary. By  this  search,  I  often  find  the  enemy  has  greatly 
exaggerated  them  ;  and  having  obtained  a  pretty  correct  view 
of  them,  I  then  compare  them  with  my  present  deserts,  and 
here  all  my  uneasiness  subsides  ;  as  I  find  myself  better  dealt 
with  than  I  really  deserve,  even  in  the  midst  of  my  sharpest 
conflicts.  I  then  take  a  more  enlarged  view  of  my  friends 
and  fellow  creatures  around  me,  and  I  see  none  so  happy  and 
free  from  trouble  as  to  induce  me,  even  if  it  were  possible,  to 
change  situations  with  them :  but  1  see  many  others,  whose 
troubles  appear  much  greater  than  mine,  although  as  descrv- 
.  ing  an  .exemption  therefrom  as  myself  By  this  time,  thou 
wilt  begin  to  discover,  my  state  of  suffering  and  sorrow  is 
turned  to  a  state  of  rejoicing,  and  in  which  I  am  renewedly 
strengthened  to  thank  God  and  take  courage:  and  this  I 
crave,  in  sympathetic  desire,  through  the  divine  blessing,  may 
be  thy  happy  experience,  my  dear  tribulated  friend. 

Thou  seemest  somewhat  alarmed  at  the  stir  and  dissension 


W^ILLIAM    POOLE.  101 

that  are  manifested  in  divers  parts  of  our  favoured,  though 
at  the  same  time,  hikewarm  and  lethargic  Society.  But  I 
account  it  rather  a  favour,  as  it  is  only  when  Zion  travaileth, 
that  she  hringeth  forth  her  healthy  and  well-favoured  children ; 
and,  in  my  view,  it  seems  like  one  of  those  times  the  apostle 
alludes  to  where  he  says,  "  Yet  once  more  I  shake  not  the 
earth  only,  but  also  Heaven."  And  is  not  the  heaven  of 
our  Society  become  almost  like  the  old  Jews'  heaven,  a  mere 
traditional  one  ?  "  And  this  word,  Yet  once  more,  signifieth 
the  removing  of  those  things  that  are  shaken,"  or  may  be 
shaken,  "  as  of  things  that  are  made,  that  those  things  which 
cannot  be  shaken,  may  remain." 

And  a  great  many  of  the  members  of  our  Society,  are 
not  only  little  more  than  traditional  ones,  but  some  of  them 
seem  even  to  be  cleaving^  to  some  of  the  old  doctrines  of  the 
Romish  Church,  that  truth  and  righteousness  cannot  warrant 
nor  approve  ;  and  I  hope  that  these  shakings  will  remove 
those  quite  out  of  the  way,  by  opening  their  unsoundness  and 
inconsistency  to  the  right-minded  and  honest  seekers  in  So- 
ciety, whose  immortal  spirits  cannot  be  satisfied  on  the  old, 
mouldy  crumbs  of  tradition  and  education. 

My  wife  joins  me  in  love  to  thee  and  thine,  and  in  which  I 
rest  thy  sympathizing  and  aJSectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    EDWARD   HICKS,    NEWTOWN,   PENN. 

Jericho,  Uh  mo.  9th,  1822. 
Deah  Friend, 

I  have  been  for  a  considerable  time  past,  almost  every  day, 
anticipating  the  pleasure  of  communing  with  my  beloved' 
friend  Edward  Hicks,  face  to  face.  This  I  was  induced  to 
expect,  by  information  received  both  by  letter  and  verbal  com- 
munication, that  he  had  obtained  the  concurrence  of  his  friends 
to  make  another  transit  on  some  part  of  the  disk  of  poor  Long 
Island  ;'  and  as  my  information  appeared  very  correct,  it  made 


102  LETTER    TO* 

the  disappointment  greater.  And  as  days,  and  weeks,  and 
even  months,  passed  away  without  meeting  the  anticipated 
gratification,  I  was  led  to  query  with  myself,  what  should  be 
the  cause,  and  whether  the  remembrance  of  the  Bulls  of  Bashan, 
or  the  scurrilous  reports  of  long-tongued  lying  fame,  had  shut 
up  the  way.  But  while  ruminating  on  those  things,  I  was 
recently,  or  not  very  long  since,  informed,  that  an  accident  by 
fire,  had  consumed  his  covert  of  temporal  amusement,  and 
place  of  industry,  (where,  like  Paul  of  old,  he  laboured  with 
his  hands  for  his  own  and  his  family's  comfortabl-e  support,) 
as  also  his  implements  for  carrying  on  his  work,  with  other 
materials  of  considerable  amount,  and  therefore  not  a  small 
loss.  Add  to  that,  I  have  been  lately  informed,  that  while  en- 
gaged in  labour  in  his  master's  vineyard,  he  was  seized  with 
such  bodily  affliction  as  to  unfit  him,  for  the  present,  to  proceed 
in  his  religious  labours,  and  also  to  render  him  unable  for 
bodily  exercise  and  labouring  with  his  hands  in  his  work- 
shop, had  it  escaped  from  the  flames. 

Now,  my  dear  friend,  are  not  these  lessons  of  A^ery  deep  in- 
struction ?  They  show  how  very  unfit  and  incapable  we  are 
of  laying  out,  or  making  any  appointments  of  our  own,  that 
will  insure  to  us  any  real  good,  either  in  temporals  or  spirit- 
uals, and  even  when  we  proceed  in  his  counsel,  and  enter  into 
concerns,  either  of  a  temporal  or  of  a  religious  nature,  he  does 
not  leave  it  for  us  to  judge  how  long,  or  how  far  we  may  proceed 
therein,  but  he  keeps  the  reins  in  his  own  hand,  like  the  well- 
advised  husbandman  when  breaking  the  horse,  that  noble,  and 
when  broken,  by  his  will  being  fully  subjected,  useful  and 
docile  quadruped.  His  first  business  is  to  learn  him  to  lead^ 
so  as  to  follow  his  master  cheerfully,  contrary  to  his  own  will. 
But  this  he  seldom  does  until  he  has  made  himself  very  sore 
by  his  obstinate  hanging  back  and  refusing  to  go  ;  but  after  a 
considerable  struggle,  he  yields  and  follows  his  master  wherever 
he  pleases  to  lead.  But  he  has  still  another  important  lesson 
to  learn,  and  that  is,  to  stop  when  and  wherever  his  master 
directs.  To  effect  this,  the  bridle  is  necessary,  with  the  bits 
in  his  mouth,  against  which  he  presses  in  his  own  will  until 


EDWARD   HICKS.  103 

he  makes  himself  sore  again  before  he  is  passive,  and  then 
instead  of  standing  still  as  he  ought,  his  will  not  being  fully 
subdued,  he  runs  backward.  Here  again  the  whip  or  the 
spur  becomes  necessary,  in  order  to  make  him  stand  still  at 
command,  or  even  at  the  beck  of  the  finger.  This  effected, 
he  is  now  well  broken,  and  becomes  wholly  passive  to  his 
master's  will,  and  stands  in  his  favour,  and  is  highly  prized  by 
him. 

But  how  very  seldom  is  man  brought  to  this  complete  passive 
state.  We  read  of  but  one  who  came  completely  to  it,  viz. 
Jesus  Christ,  our  great  pattern,  and  he  was  brought  to  it  by 
the  things  that  he  suffered.  And  I  have  often  thought,  and 
do  most  surely  believe,  that  did  men  and  women  attend  strictly 
and  faithfully  to  the  inward  manifestations  of  truth  in  their 
own  minds,  when  arrived  to  years  of  understanding,  without 
regard  to  tradition  and  custom,  thousands  would  be  soon 
brought  into  this  happy,  passive  state ;  for  no  other  state  can 
be  truly  happy.  Then  would  the  children  of  men  be  brought 
down  to  that  state  of  equilibrium,  that,  undoubtedly,  must 
have  been  the  design  of  the  Creator  in  the  beginning.  But 
man  having  swerved  from  this  state  of  filial  and  complete 
passive  obedience  to  the  will  of  his  all-wise  and  gracious 
Creator,  it  has  led  him  into  those  many  and  great  inconsis- 
tencies and  inequalities,  which  cause  all  his  present  misery 
and  distress.  And  many  there  are,  I  believe,  who,  m  their 
setting  out  in  life,  may  be  rightly  directed  in  their  choice  of 
business  by  which  to  obtain  a  comforta1)le  livelihood  for 
themselves  and  fainilies,  and  at  which  time  they  neither 
thought  of,  nor  coveted  more  ;  but,  through  the  corrupt  custom 
and  course  of  trade  and  business  among  men,  in  their  fallen 
state,  some  increase  in  their  wordly  possessions  in  such  a  rapid 
way,  they  soon  obtain  and  amass  together  much  more  than 
they  either  desired  or  expected  in  their  first  setting  out.  And 
for  want  of  keeping  a  single  eye  to  their  Divine  director,  who. 
if  rightly  attended  to,  would  as  clearly  have  showed  them 
where  to  stop,  as  he  showed  them  where  to  begin,  they  have 
continued  on,  by  which  means  their  desires  after  more  have 


104  LETTER    TO 

increased  with  the  increase  of  their  possessions,  and  finally 
they  lose  all  sense  of  what  is  right  for  them,  and  by  grasping 
after  more  in  their  own  dark  wisdom,  they  bring  a  blast  on  all 
their  designs,  and  plunge  themselves  and  families  into  irre- 
trievable poverty  and  disgrace.  While  some  others  are  per- 
mitted to  proceed  on  until  their  minds  are  wholly  swalloAved 
up  in  their  abundance,  the  care  of  which  becomes  such  a  load 
and  burden,  that  they  have  no  rest,  and  it  eventually  termi- 
nates in  the  utter  ruin  of  themselves  and  families,  and  their 
temporal  abundance  soon  becomes  squandered  and  lost  by 
the  licentiousness  and  extravagance  of  their  offspring  or  heirs, 
as  such  estates,  thus  gotten,  seldom  last  longer  than  the  second 
or  third  generation. 

And  as  in  temporals,  so  in  spirituals.  Many  we  see,  who 
appear  to  set  out  right,  for  want  of  attendino^  to  their  right 
guide,  have  not  been  able  to  endure  those  fiery  baptisms  that 
are  necessary  for  the  entire  crucifixion  of  the  old  man.  And 
although  tliey  may  have  been  partly  broken,  so  as  to  lead  in  a 
tolerable  degree,  yet,  wlien  put  forward,  for  want  of  being 
wholly  subject  to  the  bit  and  bridle,  they  run  away,  and  so 
make  shipwreck  of  faith,  and  lose  their  little  beginning.  But 
I  hope  better  things  of  }ny  dear  Edward,  who  has  passed 
through  the  ordeal  of  many  fiery  baptisms,  and  has  been  there- 
by induced  to  dig  deep,  through  the  sandy  superficial  surface 
of  tradition  and  superstition,  to  the  imperishable  foundation, 
the  rock  that  is  immovable.  Therefore  stand  fast,  my  dear 
friend,  in  that  liberty,  in  which  the  truth  has  made  us  free, 
and  be  not  entangled  with  any  yoke  of  bondage ;  for  such 
shall  assuredly  reap  if  they  faint  not.  And  thou  hast  the 
seal  of  a  son,  if  the  apostle  is  correct ;  for,  says  he,  "  Every 
son  that  the  father  loveth,  he  chasteneth ;"  and  he  furtlier 
says,  that  "  if  w^e  are  without  chastisement,  we  are  bastards 
and  not  sons." 

By  letter  from  Hugh  Judge,  I  am  informed  that  W.  F., 
the  English  Friend,  revived  in  their  Yearly  Meeting  last 
fall,  the  old  subject,  namely,  the  appointment  of  a  congress, 
as  proposed  by  your  Yearly  Meeting  some  years  past.  And 


EDWARD    HICKS.  105 

although  that  Yearly  Meeting,  the  year  before,  had  unitedly 
laid  it  quietly  asleep,  yet  W.  F.,  as  Hugh  informs,  pressed 
the  matter  so  much,  that  Friends,  although  contrary  to  the 
sense  of  the  Meeting,  condescended  to  take  it  on  minute, 
and  appointed  a  committee  to  consider  it  and  report,  and 
called  on  the  women  to  join  them  in  it.  But  the  women 
were  wiser  than  the  men,  and  dismissed  the  subject  without 
further  troubhng  themselves  with  it ;  and  the  men's  commit- 
tee reported  that  no  way  opened  to  take  any  step,  and  the 
Meeting  was  for  dismissing  it ;  but  W,  F.  urged  the  matter 
so  hard,  that  he  prevailed  with  the  Meeting  to  refer  it  over  to 
the  next  year  for  consideration.  I  thought  it  might  have  been 
well  if  my  friend  E.  H.  had  been  there,  to  have  taught  the 
Friend  better. 

My  wife  and  daughter  Elizabeth  unite  with  me  in  love  to 
thee  and  thine,  and  in  which  I  rest  thy  sure  and  affectionate 
friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO   WILLIAM   POOLE,   WILMINGTON. 

New  York,  5th  mo.  25th,  1822. 
My  Deae  Friend, 

I  now  take  my  pen  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  thy  five 
last  kind  letters,  received  since  my  last  to  thee,  and  shall 
make  no  other  apology  for  deferring  an  answer  till  this  time, 
than  that  a  full  belief  pervades  my  mind,  that  our  friendship 
is  not  only  mutual,  but  is  established  on  its  right  foundation, 
so  as  to  banish  all  suspicion  and  jealousy  from  our  minds,  in 
regard  to  any  neglect  of  right  attention  to  each  other's  com- 
munications. 

Thy  several  letters,  above  alluded  to,  were  all  pleasant  and 
very  acceptable,  especially  the  one  dated  4th  month,  13th  ;  for 
the  length  of  which  thou  makest  some  apology,  but  which 
was  altogether  unnecessary,  as  it  was  none  too  long.  The 
doctrinal  points  it  treated  of  were  exactly  in  accordance  with 

14 


106  LETTER    TO 

what  has  long  been  my  settled  belief ;  and  the  encouragement 
and  fellow  feeling  it  contained  was  truly  grateful. 

We  have  just  entered  on  the  concerns  of  our  Yearly 
Meeting ;  I  therefore  can  say  but  little  about  it,  saving  that 
we  have  the  company  of  divers  Friends  from  yours,  viz., 

R J and  J W ,  from  Jersey  ;  E H 

and  several  others,  from  Bucks  county ;  N S and 

S P ,  from  Concord  ;  T P and  wife,  from 

Baltimore,  &c. 

The  papers  containing  the  controversy  between  Paul  and 
Amicus  were  duly  received,  and  on  reading  some  of  Paul's 
communications  it  was  really  distressing  to  think,  that  a 
rational  being  could  possibly  be  so  grossly  ignorant,  as  his 
assertions  on  divers  subjects  manifest  him  to  be  ;  especially 
where  he  assures  us.  as  his  belief,  that  all  the  human  species 
that  are  not  furnished  with  the  Bible,  and  history  of  the  out- 
ward advent  of  Jesus  Christ,  must  perish,  or  be  eternally  lost. 
Can  any  believe  a  rational  being  sincere  when  making  such 
assertions  ? 

Not  being  furnished  with  much  to  communicate  at  this  time, 
may  now  draw  to  a  close. 

Thy  affectionate  friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO   WILLIAM   POOLE,   WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  8th  mo.  Sth,  1822. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

When  I  inform  thee,  that  the  day  after  the  close  of  our 
Yearly  Meeting,  after  returning  home,  I  was  seized  with 
severe  indisposition,  it  will  serve  as  an  apology  for  my  not 
writing  soon  after  the  close  of  it.  Such  was  tJie  severity  of 
my  pains,  which  came  on  by  intervals  of  from  three  to  five 
hours,  and  sometimes  more,  between  the  turns,  which  held 
from  ten  to  forty  or  fifty  minutes  at  a  time,  and  sometimes  an 
hour  or  more,  that  it  disqualified  me  for  almost  all  land  of 
action  for  several  weeks  :  so  that  1  could  neither  write  nor  talk 


"WILLIAM    POOLE.  107 

without  bringing  on  those  severe  spasnis  of  pain,  which  ran 
through  the  upper  part  of  my  breast  in  a  direction  to  each 
arm,  and  so  down  to  my  elbows  ;  which  at  times  was  so 
excruciating,  that  I  lack  words  to  give  to  another  a  fuU  idea 
of  it.  But  in  tlie  intervals  I  felt  pretty  well,  so  long  as  I  kept 
quite  still,  which  I  accounted  a  great  favour,  as  I  could  then 
meditate  and  improve  the  time.  Upon  the  whole,  I  consider 
it  in  a  good  measure  verified,  as  expressed  by  one  formerly, 
that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  those  who  truly  love 
God,  and  delight  to  meditate  in  his  law. 

Thy  letter  of  the  22d  ultimo  is  now  before  me,  by  which 
it  appears,  that  various  and  many  are  the  reports  that  are 
spreading,  not  only  concerning  my  bodily  indisposition,  but 
also  concerning  the  infirmity  of  my  mind.  But  thanks  be  to 
God  for  his  unspeakable  mercy,  who  has  been  pleased  in  the 
riches  of  his  love,  to  keep  me  sound  within,  and  is  strengthen- 
ing by  his  own  power  my  inner  man,  and  enabling  me  to 
walk  cheerfiilly  on  amidst  evil  report  and  good  report,  and 
will  not  sufier  any  of  those  things  to  move  me  off"  the  ancient 
foundation,  the  inward  revelation  of  his  own  blessed  spirit, 
who  is  over  all,  God.  blessed  for  ever. 

"  Neither  count  I  my  life  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I  might 
finish  my  course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I  have 
received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  Gospel  of  the  grace 
of  God." 

As  to  the  two  natures  in  Jesus  Christ,  I  conceive  that  if  any 
should  deny  that,  they  are  justly  to  be  accounted  deists,  as 
they  make  void  every  scripture  account  concerning  him,  for 
his  human  nature  is  as  fully  estabhshed  as  his  Divine  nature. 
There  are  some  who  are  accused  of  denying  his  Divine 
nature,  but  I  don't  recollect  of  ever  hearing  of  any  who  dare 
deny  his  human  nature  ;  for  that  would  contradict  every 
scripture  testimony  that  declares  him  to  be  the  son  of  the 
Virgin  Mary ;  for  nothing  but  the  human  nature  could  ever 
be  produced  from  the  flesh  and  blood  of  Mary.  This.  Jesus 
himself  testifies,  when  speaking  to  Nicodemus.  '•  That," 
says  he,  "  which  is  born  of  the  flesh  is  flesh ;  and  that  which 


108  LETTER    TO 

is  bom  of  the  spirit  is  spirit.  The  wind  bloweth  where  it 
listeth,  and  thou  hearest  the  sound  thereof,  but  canst  not  tell 
whence  it  coraeth,  and  wfiither  it  goeth  :  so  is  every  one  that 
is  born  of  the  spirit."  Hence  we  discover  the  cause  of  the 
ignorance,  and  consequently  the  unbelief  of  Nicodemus ;  being 
ignorant  of  the  spiritual  birth  he  could  not  believe  in  it,  for 
none  can  believe  what  they  do  not  understand,  and  this  is  the 
reason  why  so  many  disbelieve  the  divinity  of  Christ.  For 
none  can  believe  it  really  and  to  profit,  but  such  as  are,  in  a 
greater  or  less  degree,  themselves  born  of  the  spirit ;  for  it  is 
tiie  spirit  of  God  only  that  quickens  an  immortal  soul ;  the 
flesh  profiteth  nothing  in  the  things  of  God.  Although  we 
cannot  see  wind,  yet  we  know  and  feel  self-evidently  its  poAver 
and  operation  ;  just  so,  those  who  feel  the  power  and  operation 
of  the  spirit  of  God  upon  them,  self-evidently  know  that  it  is  ; 
and  as  they  yield  and  unite  with  its  operation  upon  them, 
then  is  a  birth  of  the  spirit,  according  to  their  surrender  to  its 
power,  begotten  in  them,  and  these,  and  these  only,  caii 
savingly  believe  in  the  divinity  of  Christ,  and  know  that  he  is 
born  of  God,  and  is  truly  the  son  of  God  ;  "  for  as  many  as 
are  led  by  the  spirit  of  God,"  as  saith  Paul,  "  are  the  sons  of 
God."  But  none  can  believ^e  this  doctrine  but  those  who 
know  it  effected  in  themselves. 

I  find  by  thy  letters,  that  thou  despairest  of  seeing  Long 
Island  this  sunniier  ;  nevertheless,  should  it  be  consistent  with 
the  ordering  of  Best  Wisdom,  that  thou  aijid  I  should  be  per- 
mitted to  continue  in  this  mutable  state  a  few  months  longer, 
and  be  preserved  in  health,  we  may  probably  see  each  other 
and  witness  the  satisfaction  of  speaking  face  to  face,  and  have 
the  pleasure  of  communing  on  those  things  verbally  which 
now  make  use  for  our  pens.  I  am  ready  to  conclude  that  ere 
this  comes  to  hand,  thou  wilt  have  heard  that  our  Monthly 
and  Quarterly  Meetings  have  set  me  at  liberty  to  visit,  in  a 
religious  way,  some  parts  of  your  Yearly  Meeting,  and  T  think 
Brandywine  and  Wilmington  will  likely  be  comprehended  in 
the  limits.  Until  when,  I  remain  thy  sincere  and  very  affection- 
ate friend.  ELIAS  IIICKS. 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  109 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  Wi  mo.  23d,  1822. 
My  Dear  Friend,  > 

It  appears,  by  a  letter  Valentine  lately  received  from  thee, 
that  I  had  omitted  informing  thee  of  the  reception  of  the  last 
numbers  of  the  Christian  Repository  thou  hadst  forwarded  ; 
these  may  certify  that  they  came  duly  to  hand,  and  the  one 
thou  lately  forwarded  to  Valentine,  I  was  well  satisfied  Math. 

Thou  desirest  to  have  seasonable  notice  of  the  time  when  I 
may  likely  be  with  you  at  your  meeting.  I  shall  willingly 
comply  with  thy  request,  as  far  as  way  opens  for  it.  But  it  is 
not  likely  I  sliall  see  you  until  after  Baltimore  Yearly  Meeting, 
and  my  visit  is  finished  to  the  southward.  I  propose  proceeding 
through  the  upper  part  of  Jersey,  into  Bucks  county,  taking 
meetings  through  that  county,  as  way  opens,  and  after  that 
proceed  pretty  directly  to  Baltimore. 

I  find  I  shall  not  leave  home  as  soon  as  in  an  early  period 
of  my  concern  I  had  contemplated  ;  for  as  the  time  drew  near, 
and  I  was  brought  to  look  into  the  state  of  my  accounts  about 
home,  in  order  for  a  full  settlement,  I  found  myself  somewhat 
in  debt  in  some  neighbourhoods,  in  a  religious  wa^^ ;  and  I 
have  been  closely  engaged  for  some  time  endeavouring  to  pay 
all  off.  I  had  two  large  meetings  the  day  before  yesterday, 
principally  among  those  not  of  our  Society,  about  ten  or  fifteen 
miles  distant  from  my  place  of  abode.  They  were  truly 
strengthening,  encouraging  seasons,  in  which  the  Lord's  poAver 
was  felt  to  preside  to  the  humbling  and  contriting  many 
hearts ;  for  which  my  mind  was  inspired  with  gratitude,  and 
made  humbly  thankful  for  the  unmerited  favour.  Two  or 
three  more  such  opportunities  will,  I  believe,  close  my 
accounts  about  home,  that  it  appears  probable  I  may  proceed 
on  my  western  and  southern  journey  about  the  middle  of  next 
week. 

I  shall  now,  as  I  feel  but  little  ability  for  writing  at  present, 
conclude  with  just  informing  that  my  health,  and  that  of  my 


110 


LETTER    TO 


family,  is  pretty  much  as  usual ;  although  I  frequently  feci 
some  returns  of  the  pain  in  my  breast,  and  which  I  hardly 
expect  ever  to  get  clear  of,  considering  my  advanced  age. 

With  love  to  thee  and  thine,  I  rest  thy  sympathizing  and 
affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM   POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Upper  DiMin,  Wh  mo.  16<A,  1822, 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Having  a  little  leisure  this  morning,  whilst  waiting  for  the 
time  of  meeting  here,  and  having  thee  frequently  in  remem- 
brance since  I  left  home,  and  finding  our  friend  Isaac  Parry, 
who  is  now  with  us,  intends  going  in  a  day  or  two  to  Phila- 
delphia, to  attend  your  Meeting  for  Sufferings,  and  who 
expressed  a  hope  he  should  see  thee  there  ;  I  was  induced  to 
take  my  pen,  and  salute  thee  with  a  few  lines,  desiring  that 
grace,  mercy,  and  peace  may  be  with  thee  and  abound. 

I  left  home  the  2d  instant.  Left  my  family  and  friends, 
generally,  in  usual  health ;  and  passing  on  through  New  York 
and  the  upper  part  of  Jersey,  into  the  upper  part  of  Bucks 
county,  taking  meetings  in  our  way,  we  arrived  here  last  eve- 
ning. We  have  abundant  cause  to  bless  the  name  of  Israel's 
unslumbering  Shepherd,  who  hath  graciously  manifested  his 
power  and  presence  for  our  help  and  preservation ;  opening  a 
way  for  us  in  the  hearts  of  the  people,  among  whom  we  have 
been  exercised  in  Gospel  labour,  for  the  promotion  of  his  noble 
cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the  earth  ;  breaking  down 
and  silencing  all  opposing  spirits,  and  causing  his  truth  to  reigu 
triumphant  over  all,  to  the  praise  of  His  grace,  who  is  over  all, 
blessed  for  ever. 

We  are  now  pressing  on  towards  Baltimore,  taking  such 
meetings  in  the  way  as  the  time  will  admit  of  After  attend- 
ing the  Yearly  Meeting,  we  have  a  view  of  seeing  Friends  on 
the  Eastern  shore  of  Maryland ;  after  which  we  shall  bend 
our  course  towards  Wilmington. 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  Ill 

If  thou  feelest  the  way  open  for  it,  I  should  be  pleased  to 
hear  from  thee,  while  at  Baltimore.  I  shall  likely  bdge  with 
Gerard  T.  Hopkins. 

Finding  nothing  further  at  present  to  communicate,  I  shall 
now  conclude,  with  much  love  to  you  all,  thy  affectionate 
friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,   WILMINGTON. 

Head  of  Chester,  Uth  mo.  8th,  18-22. 
Dear  Friend, 

We  came  here  last  evening  in  our  way  from  Baltimore  to 
Easton,  on  the  Eastern  shore  of  Maryland.  We  have  a  meet- 
ing appointed  here  to-day,  to-morrow  at  Cecil,  and  the  next 
day,  the  first  of  the  week,  at  Old  Chester  Neck ;  from  thence 
we  shall  proceed  on  towards  Easton,  and  after  taking  the 
meetings  in  that  quarter,  turn  towards  the  Delaware.  But 
whether  we  shall  take  all  the  meetings  on  the  Delaware  side 
below  Wilmington,  or  proceed  pretty  directly  on  to  that  place, 
taking  only  such  as  fall  in  our  way,  is  not  yet  determined. 
If  the  latter  course  is  pursued,  we  shall  get  there  in  two  or 
three  weeks  ;  if  otherwise,  it  may  be  four  weeks  or  more. 

But  I  feel  myself  as  a  day  labourer,  and  of  course  do  not 
see  far  ahead. 

The  yearly  meeting  we  have  recently  attended,  was  acknow- 
ledged by  Friends  wlio  were  there,  to  be  the  largest  and  most 
favoured  of  any  they  have  had  in  that  place  for  many  years 
past.  The  latter  I  can  concur  with,  at  least  as  far  as  my  own 
feelings  and  observation  will  warrant ;  as  I  have  not  been  in  a 
Yearly  meeting,  where  Friends,  in  the  public  service,  and  also 
in  the  ordering  of  discipline,  were  so  fully  harmonious ;  and 
the  almost  universal  unity  and  regard  both  old  and  young 
manifested  to  me  through  the  course  of  the  meeting,  and  at 
our  parting,  bowed  my  mind  in  an  humbling  sense  of  the 
unmerited  favour  and  inspired  it  with  thanksgiving  and  grati- 


112  LETTER    TO 

tilde  to  the  gracious  and  benevolent  Author  of  all  our  rich 
mercies  and  blessings. 

It  has  been  somewhat  remarkable,  considering  the  abun- 
dant reports  that  were  Avidely  spread  before  I  left  home,  calcu- 
lated to  make  an  unfavourable  impression,  that  there  has  not 
a  single  circumstance  transpired,  that  has  been  attended  with 
any  unpleasant  aspect :  but,  on  the  contrary,  scarcely  a  dog 
has  opened  his  mouth  against  us,  unless  he  has  done  it  behind 
tl)e  door  in  secret. 

But,  it  may  be,  the  worst  is  yet  to  come  :*  but  thanks  be 
given  to  the  great  Preserver  of  men,  who  hath  in  mercy  led  me 
into  that  place  of  safety  recommended  by  Paul,  that  is,  to  be 
entirely  without  carefulness  about  any  of  those  things.  Be- 
ing reduced  into  that  state  of  nothingness  of  self,  that  the 
sharpest  shafts  and  arrows  of  professed  friends,  or  open  foes, 
cannot  hit  me  ;  for  thou  very  well  knowest,  that  where  there 
is  nothing,  there  is  nothing  to  hit ;  of  course  they  are  all  shot 
in  vain. 

It  is  now  near  meeting  time,  I  must  therefore  draw  to  a 
close ;  and  in  much  love  to  thee,  thy  dear  wife  and  children, 
and  inquiring  friends,  subscribe  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO   WILLIAM   POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Caviden,  Wth  mo.  23<i,  1822. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Thy  letter  of  tlie  14th  instant  is  now  before  me,  and  its 
salutary  and  encouraging  contents  are  truly  grateful ;  stimu- 
lating to  faithfulness  in  the  path  of  duty.  It  came  duly  to 
hand  at  Easton,  and  it  was  my  intention  to  have  written  thee 

*  Information  of  the  fact  of  the  combination  which  was  foriTling  against 
him  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  publication  of  T.  E's.  letter,  developing  some 
of  the  features  of  that  combinalion,  had  a  little  before  this  time  reached 
E.  H. 


WILLIAM    POOLE. 


113 


from  that  place,  but  my  time  being  pretty  much  occupied 
when  I  first  received  it,  in  writing  to  some  other  of  my  friends, 
when  I  was  about  to  put  pen  to  paper  I  discovered  that  my 
companion,  to  whom  I  had  shown  thy  letter,  had  written  to 
thee,  and  given  the  desired  information  ;  I  therefore  deferred 
writing  for  that  time,  but  coming  here  last  evening,  and  hav- 
ing some  leisure  to-day,  I  feel  inclined  to  address  a  few  lines 
to  thee,  to  inform  thee  where  we  are  and  how  we  are  to  be 
disposed  of  for  a  few  days  to  come,  &c. 

We  have  a  meeting  appointed  to-morrow  at  Mother  Kiln  ; 
the  next  being  first  day,  we  propose  attending  Friends'  meeting 
here  in  the  morning,  and  at  three  in  the  afternoon  we  have  a 
meeting  appointed  in  the  town  of  Dover  ;  and  on  second  day 
at  Little  Creek,  and  the  next  day  the  Quarterly  Meeting  will 
begin,  where  I  anticipate  seeing  thee  and  thy  wife,  and  being 
comforted  in  conversing  with  you  face  to  face,  that  our  joy 
may  be  full.  Therefore  I  shall  not  at  present  write  much, 
especially  as  the  time  is  near  at  hand  for  the  mail  to  leave  this 
place.  We  have  attended  all  the  meetings  of  Friends  on  the 
Eastern  shore,  and  had  two  large  meetings  with  others — one 
at  Chestertown  and  one  at  Easton.  I  think  they  were  favoured 
opportunities,  and  we  left  them  with  peace  of  mind. 

We  are  at  Joseph  G.  Rowland's,  who,  with  his  worthy  wife, 
has  received  us  with  a  hearty  welcome  and  entertained  us 
kindly. 

With  the  addition  of  my  affectionate  love  and  regard  to 
thee,  thy  dear  wife  and  children,  I  subscribe  thy  assured 
^riend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO   JOHN   MERRITT,   NEW   YORK. 

Byberry,  I2th  mo.  27th,  1822. 
Dear  Friend, 

I  have  for  some  time  felt  warm  desires  to  address  thee  in 
this  way,  but  no  favourable  opportunity  has  presented  ere 

15 


114  LETTER    TO 

now.  After  leaving  thee  at  Newark,  we  proceeded  on  our 
journey,  taking  meetings  on  our  way  to  Baltimore,  where  Ave 
arrived  in  good  season  to  attend  the  Yearly  Meeting. 

Our  journey  was  very  prosperous,  the  meetings  were  gene- 
rally large  and  greatly  favoured,  and  the  apparent  universal 
unity  and  kindness  of  my  friends  was  beyond  the  expression 
of  words,  and  caused  deep  humiliation  and  grateful  acknow- 
ledgments to  my  Heavenly  Father,  for  the  unmerited  mercy. 

The  Yearly  Meeting  of  Baltimore  I  think  was  a  very 
favoured  meeting ;  the  unity  and  harmony  that  generally  pre- 
vailed among  the  living,  active  members,  through  the  several 
sittings,  was  truly  precious ;  at  the  close  of  which  we  took 
leave  of  our  friends  in  much  unity  and  harmony,  and  left 
there  with  sweet  peace  of  mind  and  with  thankful  hearts  for 
the  favours  received. 

We  proceeded  on  our  journey,  attended  the  meetings  of 
Friends  on  the  Eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  and  all  but  one  in 
the  State  of  Delaware,  to  great  satisfaction,  and  in  the  feeling 
of  near  unity  with  our  friends.  Passing  on  we  came  to  Phila- 
delphia, where  a  few  made  some  opposition,  though  mostly 
behind  our  backs ;  yet  here  our  joy  was  transcendently 
greater,  although  it  was  before  as  great  as  we  could  dare  to 
ask  for ;  but  here  it  was  much  greater  by  contrast,  for  we  had 
not  met  with  any  opposition  before  we  came  here,  and  here 
tlie  Lord,  our  gracious  preserver,  openly  and  obviously  de- 
fended us  against  our  opposers,  and  turned  the  mischief  and 
evil  machinations  of  their  designs  upon  their  own  heads,  and 
has  confounded  their  evil  devices,  and  caused  them  to  be 
taken  in  the  snare  they  had  prepared  for  their  friend,  who, 
through  tlie  spnit  of  envy  that  predominated  in  them,  they 
were  led  to  consider  their  enemy,  but  who  nevertheless  is  still 
their  friend,  and  prays  that  they  may  be  delivered  from  their 
wretched  infatuation. 

We  left  Philadelphia  the  25th  instant.  Our  friends  m  an 
abundant  manner  expressed  their  sorrow  for  our  leaving  them 
so  soon,  as  onr  time  had  been  so  generally  taken  up  in  our 
visits  to  tlie  families  of  Green  Street  meeting  and  in  attend- 


JOHN    MERRITT.  115 

ing  the  public  meetings,  that  they  could  not  have  so  much  of 
our  company  as  they  desired,  although  nearly  every  evening 
wlien  we  retired  to  our  lodgings,  which  was  seldom  earlier 
than  eight  o'clock,  we  found  from  thirty  to  fifty,  and  some- 
times near  a  hundred  Friends,  young  and  old,  being  desirous 
of  our  company  and  conversation,  and  m.any  of  those  oppor- 
tunities were  solemn  and  instructive  seasons  to  those  thus 
assembled.  Surely  it  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  mavellous  in 
our  eyes.  The  fourth,  fifth,  and  sixth  days  of  this  week  we 
attended  meetings  at  Frankford,  Germantown,  and  Abington, 
all  very  large  and  favoured.  We  are  now  at  Byberry,  with 
our  friend  John  Conily,  who,  with  his  family,  is  well.  We 
expect  to  attend  the  meeting  here  to-morrow,  the  next  day  at 
Middletown,  the  next  at  Bristol,  the  next  at  the  Falls,  the  next 
at  Pennsbury,  being  fifth  of  the  week  ;  after  which  we  shall 
cross  the  Delaware  to  Trenton,  and,  if  the  travelling  will 
reasonably  permit,  attend  some  more  meetings  in  Jersey,  down 
the  Delaware.  I  should  be  willing  to  reach  home  by  the  time 
of  our  Q,uarterly  Meeting,  if  way  opens  for  it,  but  must  sub- 
mit that  to  higher  authority  than  man. 

My  companion  joins  me  in  love  to  thee,  to  dear  Phebe, 
and  the  children,  in  which  I  rest  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 

P.  S.  Please  to  remember  me  to  dear  E.  Coggeshall  and 
family,  to  dear  Elizabeth  Haydock  and  family,  and  let  the 
two  Elizabeths  see  this  letter,  as  I  have  thought  of  com- 
muning with  them  in  this  way,  but  the  urgency  of  the  work 
I  am  engaged  in,  affords  mfe  but  little  time  to  write  to  my 
friends.  And  should  Samuel  Titus,  of  New  Rochelle,  be  in 
town,  please  let  him  see  it,  and  present  my  love,  to  him  ;  also 
to  John  R.  Willis  and  other  inquiring  friends,  in  thy  freedom  ; 
also  to  thy  neighbours,  Samuel  Willets  and  wife. — I  am  as 
well  nearly  as  when  I  left  home.     Farewell. 

E.  H. 


116  LETTER  TO 

TO  WILLIAM  POOLE,  WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  2d  mo.  3d,  1823. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Thy  letters  of  12th  mo.  30th,  and  1st  mo.  5th,  were  duly 
received,  and  read  Avith  interest  and  satisfaction.  And  as 
thou  requests  to  know  how  I  got  on  in  my  journey,  I  feel 
willmg  to  give  thee  a  summary  thereof;  as  it  has  been,  take 
it  ill  all  its  parts,  the  most  satisfactory  and  the  most  peaceful 
one  I  have  ever  taken,  from  the  first  step  taken  therein  to  my 
return  home. 

In  my  first  opening  the  concern  to  my  friends  in  the 
Monthly  and  Quarterly  Meetings,  their  unity,  sympathy,  and 
encouragement  were  more  fully  expressed  therewith,  than  I 
had  ever  before  witnessed  on  any  like  occasion,  and  it  seemed 
as  a  precursor  of  what  might  eventually  follow,  and  tended  to 
establish  my  faith  and  dependance  in  that  arm  and  power  that 
at  first  opened  the  prospect  and  engaged  me  in  the  service  ; 
and  who  graciously  condescended  to  be  with  me  and  guide 
me  through  the  journey,  and  opened  a  way  for  me,  that 
neither  man,  nor  all  the  united  powers  of  darkness,  were  able 
to  shut.  Prom  a  grateful  sense  thereof,  my  spirit  is  humbled 
in  deep  self-abasement  for  the  unmerited  favour ;  for  my 
peace,  through  his  mercy  and  power,  was  preserved  unbroken, 
out  of  the  reach  of  all  opposing  spirits.  Thanksgiving  and 
praise  be  rendered  to  his  right  worthy  name,  who  is  over  all, 
God  blessed  for  ever. 

As  to  what  thou  observes  respecting  Jesus  not  being  the  Son 
of  God,  spiritually,  until  after  the  baptism  of  John  and  descent 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  upon  him,  it  is  a  subject  that  appears  to  be 
a  very  simple  one,  as  all  truths  are,  and  does  not  admit  of  any 
speculation,  as  the  whole  rests  upon  matter  of  fact,  as  recorded 
in  the  Scriptures.*  For  do  they  not  fully  testify,  that  Jesus 
was  born  a  real  and  true  Tsraelitish  child,  being  the  offspring 

*  Deut.  xviii.  15,  18.    Acts  ii.  22  ;  iii.  22.    Hebrews,  ii.  16,  17,  18 ;  iv.  15.    Isaiah. 

11. 1. 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  117 

of  Abraham  and  David,  and  born  into  the  world  as  was 
Isaac  and  John  the  Baptist,  by  the  special  interference  of  the 
Divine  power,  through  the  medium  of  the  flesh  and  blood  of 
a  woman,  and  therefore,  as  Jesus  himself  testifies,  "  that 
which  is  born  of  the  flesh  is  Jlesh  ;  and  that  which  is  born 
of  the  spirit  is  spirit," 

Hence  we  reasonably  suppose  this  testimony  of  Jesus  might 
set  the  matter  at  rest,  with  every  man  endued  with  a  rational 
understanding.  For  the  miraculous  conception  in  either  case, 
could  not  constitute  a  diflerence  of  nature  in  the  being  pro- 
duced ;  especially  when  we  consider  that  the  immortal  soul 
cannot  be  generated  in  the  flesh  of  woman,  as  there  is  no 
analogy  between  matter  and  spirit ;  and  when  we  consider 
further,  that  the  flesh  of  every  child  born  of  a  woman,  is  only 
animated  by  the  breath  and  air  of  this  world:  take  that 
away,  and  the  animal  man  dies  immediately.  That  was  the 
case  with  Jesus-  on  the  cross  ;  but  his  immortal  spirit,  born  of 
God,  returned  to  God,  who  gave  it,  as  it  stood  superior  to 
death,  tlell,  and  the  grave. 

We  likewise  find  him  growing  up  from  a  child  to  the  state 
of  manhood,  like  other  children,  and  no  doubt  his  soul  when 
it  entered  the  body  prepared  for  it,  was  furnished  with  such  a 
portion  of  the  Divine  spirit,  as  was  most  consistent  with  the 
will  of  his  Heavenly  Father,  and  by  whicli  he  was  enabled  to 
fulfil  all  the  righteousness  of  the  law  and  covenant  given  to 
Israel  by  Moses  ;  and  therefore,  in  a  certain  sense,  might  be 
considered  a  Son  of  God,  as  much  so  as  that  dispensation 
would  admit  of  But  if  he  had  been  completely  so  before  the 
baptism  of  John  and  the  descent  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  why  was 
that  superadded,  and  why  did  not  his  Heavenly  Fatlier.  pr(j- 
vious  to  that  time,  declare  him  his  Son  in  whom  he  was  well 
pleased  ? 

And  when  we  further  consider,  that  we  do  not  hear  any 
thing  of  him,  after  he  was  grovru  to  man's  estate,  not  even  so 
much  as  being  tempted,  until  after  the  Holv  Spirit  descended 
upon  him,  and  by  whicli  he  wa.  t.ien  more  fully  the  Son  of 
God,  and  filled  with  the  Divine  nature  of  his  Heavenly  Fa- 


118  LETTER    TO 

ther,  and  thereby  qualified  to  meet  the  temptations  that  assailed 
him,  and  when  he  had  vanquished  tejiiptation,  we  then  find 
him  entering  upon  his  mission,  and  not  before. 

And  that  must  be  the  experience  of  every  gospel  minister  ; 
for  I  cannot  conceive  that  any  can  arrive  to  a  state  for  gospel 
ministry,  until  they  have  first  fulfilled  the  substance  of  the 
moral  law,  as  Jesus  did ;  and  that  opens  the  way  for  the 
reception  of  a  further  infusion  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  a  neces- 
sary preparation  for  gospel  ministry.  For  every  one  who 
ministers  of  the  things  of  God,  must  first  be  born  of  the  Spi- 
rit of  God,  for  none  can  be  the  sons  of  God  but  those  who 
are  born  of  his  Spirit.  And  nothing  but  Spirit  can  be  born 
of  the  Spirit  of  God,  so  as  to  become  his  children,  and  be 
taught  of  him,  as  God  is  a  pure,  holy,  immortal,  invisible, 
infinite,  and  unchangeable  Spirit,  possessed  of  every  virtue 
and  excellence  that  can  be  attributed  to  him,  and  all  his  child- 
ren must  really  partake  of  his  Divine  nature,  without  any 
mixture,  to  qualify  them  for  heaven,  and  those  celestial  joys 
that  constitute  that  happy  state. 

We  arrived  safe  in  New  York  on  7th  day,  the  ISth  of  1st 
month ;  attended  their  fore  and  afternoon  meetings  on  1st 
day.  They  were  large  and  favoured,  as  was  generally  the 
case  with  all  the  meetings  we  attended  after  parting  with 
thee. 

On  1st  day  evening  as  I  retired  to  bed,  I  was  taken  with  a 
turn  of  gravel,  which  held  me  through  the  night,  and  pre- 
vented my  getting  much  rest,  but  was  so  much  better  next 
day,  that  I  rode  home  in  the  afternoon,  and  found  my  family 
all  in  usual  health ;  which,  together  with  the  many  favours 
dispensed  to  me  in  the  course  of  my  journey,  by  a  Gracious 
Providence,  was  cause  of  deep  humility  and  thankfulness. 
On  3d  day  I  rested  with  my  family.  On  4th  day  attended 
our  select  Quarterly  Meeting,  in  wliich  I  had  some  service. 
On  5th  day,  about  five  in  the  morning,  I  was  taken  Math  a  very 
severe  turn  of  my  old  complaint,  which  held  me  in  much  severe 
pain  for  about  twenty-six  hours,  but  getting  relief  about  seven 
or  eight  o'clock  on  6th  day  morning,  I  ventured  to  attend  the 


WILLIAiM    POOLE.  119 

public  parting  meeting  of  the  quarter,  which  was  large,  and  I 
think,  a  favoured  meeting,  and  held,  I  trust,  to  our  mutual 
comfort  and  rejoicing ;  my  friends  generally  manifesting  much 
gladness  in  my  being  restored  to  them  again.  I  accounted  it 
as  one  of  the  special  favours  received,  my  being  permitted  to 
get  home  previous  to  the  severe  attack  of  my  old,  and  in  some 
sort  habitual,  complaint ;  that  the  query  arises  very  fresh  at 
times,  what  shall  I  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  benefits  1 
for  surely  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever. 

T  rest  thy  affectionate  and  sympathizing  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


AN   ADDRESS    TO    YOUTH. 

The  following  Address  to  the  Youth,  was  annexed  to  a  letter  written 
by  Elias  Hicks  to  two  Friends  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
year  1823. 

Since  penning  the  foregoing,  my  mind  has  been  draMm  into 
a  renewed  feeling  of  near  sympathy  and  gospel  affection  with 
the  dearly  beloved  youth,  not  only  those  of  your  Monthly 
Meeting,"  that  fell  more  particularly  under  my  notice  in  the 
family  Adsits  I  made  when  with  you,  but  all  others  of  your 
city,  whom  the  Lord  in  the  riches  of  his  mercy,  is  renew- 
edly  visiting  with  the  day-spring  from  on  high,  through  the 
immediate  manifestation  of  his  love  and  light  in  their  inner 
man,  as  the  guardian  angel  of  his  presence  to  guide  them  and 
keep  them ;  and  as  they  take  heed  thereunto,  will  preserve  and 
keep  them  from  all  evil,  and  will  lead  them  up  to  the  head- 
spring and  fountain  of  living  water,  of  which,  when  they 
drink,  they  will  never  thirst  again  after  the  muddy  waters  of 
tradition  and  education,  that  stands  in  the  letter  that  killeth. 
But  their  thirst  will  be  continually  satiated  with  the  pure  wa- 
ter of  life,  that  makes  glad  all  Zion's  dedicated  and  devoted 

*  Green  Street. 


120  LETTER    TO 

children,  and  which  adds  no  sorrow  with  it.  And  as  they 
give  good  heed  to  this  holy  anointing,  which  is  truth  and  is 
no  he,  it  will  lead  them  off  from  all  dependance  on  man, 
whose  breath  is  in  his  nostrils,  for  wherein  is  he  to  be 
accounted  of;  and  they  will  have  no  need  that  any  man 
teach  them  then,  but  as  the  same  anointing  teacheth.  It  will 
bring  them  to  see  the  end  of  all  shadows  that  stand  in  out- 
ward visible  things,  let  them  be  ever  so  great  or  excellent,  and 
will  gather  them  into  itself  (the  invisible  power)  to  the  law  of 
the  spirit  of  life,  that  sets  the  soul  free  from  the  law  of  sin 
and  death,  and  from  all  condemnation.  And  may  the  dear 
youth  dwell  near  and  in  tbis  holy  principle,  in  this  day  of  trial 
and  rebuke,  for  the  Lord's  hand  is  stretched  out  upon  the 
nations,  and  he  "  will  overturn,  overturn,  overturn  it,  and  it 
shall  be  no  more,  until  he  come  whose  right  it  is,  and  I  will 
give  it  him."  The  Lord  I  believe  is  about  to  put  an  end  to,  and 
overturn  all  man's  work  in  religion,  and  to  put  an  end  to  all 
man's  forms,  creeds,  and  professions,  that  stand  in  man's  'WiU 
and  spirit,  that  He  only,  may  come  to  rule  and  reign  in  the 
hearts  of  his  cliildren,  that  so  all  may  savingly  come  to  laiow 
but  one  Lord,  one  faith,  and  one  baptism  ;  one  God  and  Fa- 
ther of  all,  who  is  above  all,  through  all,  and  in  you  all. 
May  the  dearly  beloved  visited  youth  press  forward  toward 
this  blessed  and  happy  state,  and  come  to  know  an  establish- 
ment therein,  is  the  sincere  and  sympathetic  desire  of  their 
ancient,  aifectionate,  and  exercised  friend  and  elder  brother. 

ELLIS  HICKS. 


TO   J.   WILSON   MOORE,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Jericho,  2d  mo.  26th,  1823. 
Deab  Friend, 

Thy  letter,  accompanying  one  from  thy  father  of  the  14th 
ult.,  was  very  acceptable  ;  a  feeling  sense  of  the  kindness  and 
regard  of  my  friends,  manifested  in  an  epistolary  way,  is  truly 
grateful   to   my  mind.     I   anticipate   with  thee,   at  least  in 


J.    WILSON    MOORE. 


121 


desire,  that  bigotry  and  superstition  may  be  banished  frjom 
the  rnind  of  every  member  of  our  highly  favoured  Society. 
For  M'hat  reproach  and  inconsistency  must  attach  to  every 
rational  being,  who  makes  the  high  profession  that  we  do,  of 
being  led  and  guided  by  an  unerring  principle  of  light  and 
truth  in  the  mind,  as  a  sufficient  and  only  rule  of  faith  and 
practice,  when  such  turn  back  to  the  letter,  and  presume  to 
establish  a  rule  from  the  writings  of  men  in  former  ages,  and 
so  contradict  their  profession.  And  the  inconsistency  appears 
the  more  glaring  and  reproachful,  when  the  enlightened  mind 
takes  a  correct  view  of  the  records  of  past  ages,  wherein  it 
clearly  appears,  that  nothing  but  a  strict  adherence  to  this 
unerrins:  rule,  has  ever  reconciled  man  to  his  Maker,  or  to 
his  fellow  creature.  But  every  man,  in  all  ages,  who  has 
attended  strictly  to  this  rule,  regardless  of  every  external 
rule,  unless  first  sanctioned  by  this  internal  rule,  has  never 
failed  of  beinar  reconciled  both  to  God  and  man. 

I  will  go  no  farther  back,  to  prove  these  assertions,  than  the 
introduction  of  the  gospel  dispensation  by  the  blessed  Jesus  ; 
who  in  his  last  counsel  and  command  to  his  immediate  fol- 
lowers, turned  their  attention  entirely  away  from  placing 
any  dependance  on  external  evidence,  even  the  best  that  was 
ever  dispensed  to  the  children  of  men,  in  any  age  of  the 
world  ;  that  is,  what  is  contained  in  his  own  life  and  doc- 
trines, that  was  super-eminent  to  all  external  evidence  that  had 
ever  been  dispensed  to  man  before  his  coming.  This  was  the 
view,  no  doubt,  his  disciples  had  concerning  him,  and  that  he 
would  continue  with  them  and  be  their  preserver  and  com- 
forter. But  he  showed  them  their  error  and  mistake,  when  he 
declared  to  them,  that  it  was  expedient  for  them  that  he  should 
go  away,  for  if  he  went  not  away,  he  assured  them  that  the 
comforter  would  not  come  unto  them.  "  But  if  I  depart,  I 
will  send  him  unto  you,  and  when  he  is  come,  he  will  reprove 
the  world  of  sin  ;"  that  is,  every  rational  creature  that  is  in  the 
world  at  any  time.  "  He  will  guide  you  into  all  truth,"  conse- 
quently out  of  all  error  ;  and  this  corroborates  the  testimony 
of  John,  who  assured  the  believers  of  his  day,  that  they  had 

16 


122 


LETTER    TO 


an  unction  from  the  Holy  One,  and  needed  not  any  man  to 
teach  them,  but  as  the  same  anointinof  taug-ht  them,  which  is 
truth,  and  is  no  he.* 

And  wJiile  the  beh'evers  attended  to  this,  they  were  of  one 
heart  and  one  mind,  being  all  baptized  by  this  one  spirit  of 
truth  into  one  body,  and  all  made  to  drink  into  this  spirit — of 
that  water  that  whosoever  drinks  of,  will  never  thirst  aofain 
after  the  lo  !  heres,  or  lo  !  theres,  that  are  in  the  world  ;  and 
which  all  have  their  source  and  spring  from  the  letter  that 
killeth.  And  it  is  of  no  avail  who  wrote  the  letter,  whether 
Paul  or  Apollos,  or  Cephas,  or  George  Fox,  or  Penn,  or  Bar- 
clay, or  any  other  man,  still  as  we  turn  to  it,  we  turn  from 
that  which  is  a  thousand  fold  better,  even  the  spirit  of  truth, 
that  is  ever  nearer  to  us  than  it  is  possible  the  letter  can  be,  as 
it  dwelleth  with  and  is  in  every  believer,  and  is  the  only  pre- 
sent helper  in  every  needful  time.  The  letter,  or  what  is 
composed  in  writing,  can  only  direct  to  this 'spirit  of  truth,  and 
may  be  one  among  the  many  outward  instruments  that  a  gra- 
cious God,  in  h«s  wisdom  and  goodness,  has  dispensed  to  the 
children  of  men,  to  lead  them  from  their  unbelief,  by  pointing 
and  directing  their  attention  to  this  irnvard  teacher,  the  spirit 
of  truth,  which,  as  they  obey  it,  will  lead  them  into  all  truth, 
without  the  aid  of  any  other  teacher,  and  will  bring  about 
their  salvation  without  any  other  Saviour.  But  to  know  this 
work  fully  effected,  we  must  cleave  wholly  and  alone  to  this 
inward  guide,  and  leave  all  outward  guides  behind  ;  seeing  we 
cannot  serve  two  masters,  neither  can  we  folloM'-  two  guides, 
the  one  inward  and  the  other  outward,  at  the  same  time.  But 
when  the  outward  weaker  one,  suited  to  the  darkness  and  car- 
nality of  our  hearts,  has  brought  us  to  the  inward  one,  in 
which  is  all  wisdom,  sti'ength,  and  power,  then  w^e  ought  to 
quit  the  weaker  one,  which  never  was  able,  nor  ever  was 
mtended,  to  make  the  comers  thereunto  perfect,  as  respects 
the  soul.  Hence  all  those  wdio  profess  to  believe  in  this  inter- 
nal teacher,  the  spirit  of  truth,  and  turn  back  to  the  letter  or 

*  1  John,  ii.  27. 


J.    AVILSON    MOORE.  123 

writings  of  Paul,  of  Peter,  of  Fox,  or  Barclay,  or  any  other 
outward  teacher,  and  undertake  from  their  writings  to  form 
creeds  or  confessions  of  faith  as  a  rule  of  conduct  to  the  be- 
lievers, clearly  indicate  that  they  have  fallen  away  from  the 
faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints,  and  turned  back  to  the  weak 
and  beggarly  elements,  and  justly  incur  the  severe  reprehen- 
sion of  Paul  to  the  Galatians — "  Are  ye  so  foolish  ?  having 
begun  in  the  spirit,  are  ye  now  made  perfect  by  the  flesh  ?" 

And  every  enlightened  mind,  who  hath  been  conversant  in 
the  history  of  the  primitive  church,  may  clearly  discover  that 
a  departure  in  the  believers  from  this  inward  perfect  guide, 
and  turning  their  attention  to  the  writings  of  the  primitive 
saints,  was  one  principal  cause  of  the  apostacy  that  so  soon  after 
the  apostles'  days  overspread  the  Christian  Church.  And  to 
such  an  excess  did  it  soon  arise,  as  to  turn  the  professors  of 
Christianity  back  into  a  state  of  greater  darkness  than  they 
were  in  while  conversant  among  the  Gentile  nations  ;  not 
only  denying  this  inward  guide,  the  spirit  of  truth,  but  actu- 
ally denied  all  internal  immediate  revelation,  which  is  going  a 
step  below  the  most  ignorant  inhabitants  of  the  wilderness. 
And  when  George  Fox  was  raised  a  witness  to  the  truth,  his 
whole  errand  appears  to  have  been,  to  turn  people  from  dark- 
ness to  this  inward  light,  as  the  only  and  alone  sure  rule  and 
infallible  way  to  blessedness  ;  and  so  long  as  our  primitive 
Friends  kept  to  this  as  their  only  guide,  love  and  unity  pre- 
vailed. But  when  they  began  to  set  up  for  one,  against  an- 
other, divisions  and  disputes  arose  and  broke  the  unity ;  one 
party  saying,  I  am  of  Penn,  others,  I  am  of  Mead,  &c.  Thus 
the  harmony  was  broken  ;  and  this  for  want  of  keeping  to  the 
inward  guide,  which  is  the  same  in  all,  and  letting  the  eye 
wander  without  to  external  evidence,  which  never  made  the 
comers  thereunto  perfect,  as  pertaining  to  the  conscience,  as  all 
external  evidence  is  conveyed  to  the  spirit  of  man  tlirough  the 
medium  of  the  animal  senses.  And  as  the  spirit  of  man  can- 
not rise  any  higher  through  this  medium,  than  to  know  the 
things  of  man,  therefore  no  external  evidence  can  reveal  the 
things  of  God,  which  are  only  known  by  tlie  Spirit  of  God. 


124  LETTER    TO 

As  my  paper  is  now  nearly  full,  I  will  draw  to  a  close,  and 
in  much  love  to  thyself,  beloved  wife,  and  little  daughter,  rest 
thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO   NATHAN    SHOEMAKER,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Jericho,  "id  mo.  31s/,  1823. 
Dear  Friend, 

Thy  acceptable  letter  of  1st  month  last,  came  duly  to  hand, 
but  my  religious  engagements,  and  other  necessary  concerns, 
have  prevented  my  giving  it  that  attention  that  its  contents 
seem  to  demand.  Thou  queries  after  my  views  of  the  suffer- 
ing of  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  and  what  was  the  object 
of  the  shedding  of  his  blood  on  the  cross,  and  what  benefits 
resulted  to  mankind  by  the  shedding  of  this  blood,  &c.  I 
sliall  answer  in  a  very  simple  way,  as  I  consider  the  whole 
subject  to  be  a  very  simple  one,  as  all  truth  is  simple  when  we 
free  ourselves  from  the  improper  bias  of  tradition  and  educa- 
tion, which  rests  as  a  burdensome  stone  on  the  minds  of  most 
of  the  children  of  men,  and  which  very  much  mars  the  unity 
and  harmony  of  society. 

1st.  By  what  means  did  Jesus  suffer  ?  The  answer  is  plain, 
by  the  hands  of  wicked  men,  and  because  his  works  were . 
righteous  and  theirs  were  wicked.  Query.  Did  God  send  him 
into  the  world  purposely  to  suffer  death  by  the  hands  of  wicked 
men  ?  By  no  means  ;  but  to  live  a  righteous  and  godly  life, 
(which  was  the  design  and  end  of  God's  creating  man  in  the 
beginning,)  and  thereby  be  a  perfect  example  to  such  of  man- 
kind as  should  come  to  the  Imowledge  of  him  and  of  his  per- 
fect life.  For,  if  it  was  the  purpose  and  will  of  God  that  he 
should  die  by  the  hands  of  wicked  men,  then  the  Jews,  by 
crucifying  him,  would  have  done. God's  will,  and  of  course 
would  all  have  stood  justified  in  his  sight,  which  could  not  be. 
But  it  was  permitted  so  to  be,  as  it  had  been  with  many  of  the 
prophets  and  wise  and  good  men  that  were  before  him,  who 


NATHA.N    SHOEMAKER.  '25 

suffered  death  by  the  hands  of  wicked  men  for  righteousness' 
sake,  as  ensamples  to  those  that  came  after,  that  they  should 
account  nothing  too  dear  to  give  up  for  the  truth's  sake,  not 
even  their  own  hves. 

But  the  shedding  of  his  blood  by  the  wicked  scribes,  pha- 
risees,  and  people  of  Israel,  had  a  particular  effect  on   the 
Jewish  nation,  as  by  this,  (the  topstone  and  worst  of  all  their 
crimes,)  was  filled  up  the  measure  of  their  iniquities,  and  whicli 
put  an  end  to  that  dispensation,  together  with  its  law  and 
covenant.     That   as  John's  baptism  summed  up  in  one,  all 
the  previous  water  baptisms  of  that  dispensation,  and  put  an 
end  to  them,  which  he  sealed  with  his  blood,  so  this  sacrifice 
of  the  body  of  Jesus  Christ,  summed  up  in  one,  all  the  out- 
ward atoning  sacrifices  of  the  shadowy  dispensation,  and  put 
an  end  to  them  all,  thereby  abolishing  the  law,  having  pre- 
viously fulfilled  all  its  righteousness,  and,  as  saith  the  apostle, 
"  He  blotted  out  the  hand-writing  of  ordinances,  nailing  them 
to  his  cross ;"  having  put  an  end  to  the  law  that  commanded 
them;  with  all  its  annexed  legal  sins,  and  abolished  all  its  legal 
penalties,  so  that  all  the  Israelites  that  believed  on  him,  after 
he  exclaimed  on  the  cross,  "  It   is  finislied,"  might   abstain 
from  all  the  rituals  of  their  law,  such  as  circumcision,  water 
baptisms,  outward  sacrifices,  seventh  day  sabbaths,   and  all 
their  other  holy  days,  &c.  and  be  blameless  ;  and  the  legal 
sins  that  any  were  guilty  of,  were  now  remitted  and  done 
away  by  the  abolishment  of  the  law  that  commanded  them, 
for  "  where  there  is  no  law  there  is  no  transgression."     But 
those  that  did  not  believe  on  him,  many  of  them  were  destroyed 
by  the  sword,  and  the  rest  were  scattered  abroad  in  the  earth. 
But,  I  do  not  consider  that  the  crucifixion  of  the  outward 
body  of  flesh  and  blood  of  Jesus  on  the  cross,  was  an  atone- 
ment for  any  sins  but  the  legal  sins  of  the  Jews ;  for  as  their 
law  was  outward,  so  their  legal  sins  and  their  penalties  were 
outward,  and  these  could  be  atoned  for  by  an  outward  sacri- 
fice ;  and  this  last  outward  sacrifice  was  a  full  type  of  the 
inward  sacrifice  that  every  sinner  must  make,  in  giving  up 
that  sinful  life  of  his  own  will,  in  and  by  which  he  hath  from 


120  LETTER    TO 

time  to  time,  crucified  the  innocent  life  of  God  in  liis  own  soul  : 
and  which  Paul  calls  "  the  old  man  with  his  deeds,"  or  "  the 
man  of  sin  and  son  of  perdition,"  who  hath  taken  God's  seat  in 
the  heart,  and  there  exalteth  itself  above  all  that  is  called  God, 
or  is  worshipped,  sitting  as  Judge  and  Supreme.  Now  all  this 
life,  poAver,  and  will  of  man,  must  be  slain  and  die  on  the 
cross  spiritually,  as  Jesus  died  on  the  cross  outwardly,  and 
this  is  the  true  atonement,  which  that  outward  atonement  was 
a  clear  and  full  t\'pe  of  This  the  apostie  Paul  sets  forth  in 
a  plain  manner,  Romans  vi.  3,  4.  "  Know  ye  not  that  so 
many  of  us  as  were  baptized  into  Jesus  Christ,  were  "baptized 
into  his  death  ?  Therefore  we  are  buried  with  him  by  bap- 
tism into  death,  that,  like  as  Christ  was  raised  up  from  the 
dead"  outwardly,  "by  the  glory  of  the  Father,  even  so  we," 
having  by  the  spiritual  baptism  witnessed  a  death  to  sin,  shall 
know  a  being  raised  up  spiritually,  and  so"walk  in  newness 
of  hfe." 

But  the  primitive  Christian  church  having  soon  after  the 
apostles'  days,  turned  away  from  their  true  and  only  sufficient 
guide,  the  Spirit  of  Truth,  that  Jesus  commanded  his  disci- 
ples to  wait  for,  and  not  attempt  to  do  any  thing  until  they 
had  received  it,  but  assured  them  that  w^ien  they  had  received 
it,  it  would  be  a  complete  and  sufficient  rule,  without  the  ad- 
dition of  any  other-  thing,  as  it  ivould  lead  them  and  guide 
them  into  all  truth.  And  to  its  sufficiency,  John,  the  beloved 
apostle,  bore  this  noble  and  exalted  testimony,  in  full  accord- 
ance with  his  Divine  Master,  in  this  emphatic  language  to  his 
fellow  believers :  "  Ye  have  an  unction  from  the  Holy  One, 
and  need  not  that  any  man  teach  you,  but  as  the  same  anoint- 
ing teacheth  you,  which  is  truth,  and  is  no  lie."*  But  the  be- 
lievers, by  too  much  looking  to  their  old  traditions,  soon  lost 
sight  of,  or  neglected  fully  to  attend,  as  they  ought  to  have 
done,  to  this  inward  guide,  and  turned  their  attention  outward 
to  the  letter,  which  always  killeth  those  loho  lean  upon  it  as 
a  rule.  Hence,  the  successors  of  those  meek  and  self-denying 
followers  of  the  example  and  commands  of  Jesus,  apostatized 

*  1  John,  ii.  20,  27. 


NATHAN   SHOEMAKER.  127 

from  the  simplicity  of  the  gospel,  by  which  the  unity  was 
broken,  and  they  soon  became  divided  into  sects  and  parties, 
and  persecuted  each  other;  and  invented  and  promulgated 
inconsistent  and  unsound  doctrines,  such  as  original  sin,  certi- 
fying that  all  Adam's  offspring  are  condemned  to  eternal  pun- 
ishment for  one  mis-step  of  our  first  parents  ;  for'  they  do  not 
appear  to  have  been  guilty  of  but  one  failure,  and  that,  it 
appears,  they  made  satisfaction  for  at  the  time  of  their  first 
arraignment  by  their  benevolent  Creator,  manifesting  sorrow 
and  repentance  :  which  seems  to  be  fairly  implied  by  the  sequel 
of  the  interview  between  them :  for  it  is  said  he  clothed  them 
with  coats  of  skins,  to.hide  their  nakedness,  which  is  an  emblem 
of  durable  clothing,  and  as  their  nakedness  was  not  an  out- 
loard  one,  hut  a  nakedness  of  soul,  not  being  able  to  conceal 
their  sin  from  the  All-penetrating  Eye  of  Divine  Justice,  so 
when  he  had  brought  them,  through  conviction,  to  see  their 
error  and  to  repent  of  it,  he  was  reconciled  to  them,  and 
clothed  them  again  with  his  Holy  Spirit. 

And  inasmuch  as  those  idle  prbmulgators  [of  the  doctrine]  of 
original  sin,  believe  they  are  made  sinners  without  their  consent 
or  knowledge,  which,  according  to  the  nature  and  reason  of 
things,  every  rational  mind  must  see  is  impossible  ;  so  likewise 
they  are  idle  and  ignorant  enough  to  believe  they  are  made  right- 
eous without  their  consent  or  knowledge,  by  the  righteousness 
of  one  who  lived  on  the  earth  near  two  thousand  years  before 
they  had  an  existence,  and  this  by  the  cruel  act  of  wicked  men 
slaying  an  innocent  and  righteous  one ;  and  these  are  bold 
and  daring  enough  to  lay  this  cruel  and  unholy  act  to  the 
charge  of  Divine  Justice,  as  having  purposely  ordained  it  to 
be  so .  But  what  an  outrage  it  is  against  every  righteous  law 
of  God  and  man,  as  the  Scriptures  abundantly  testify.  See 
Exodus,  xxiii.  7.  "  Keep  thee  far  from  a  false  matter,  and 
the  innocent  and  righteous  slay  thou  not,  for  1  will  not  justify 
the  wicked."  Deut.  xxvii.  25,  "  Cursed  be  he  that  taketh 
reward  to  slay  an  innocent  person  ;"  and  much  more  might  be 
produced  to  show  the  wickedness  and  absurdity  of  the  doc- 
trine, that  would  accuse  the  perfectly  just,  all-wise,  and  mer- 


12S  LETTER    TO 

ciful  Jehovah,  of  so  barbarous  and  cruel  an  act,  as  that  of 
slaying  his  innocent  and  ris^hteous  Son,  to  atone  for  the  sins 
and  iniquities  of  the  ungodly. 

Surely,  is  it  possible,  that  any  rational  being  that  has  any 
right  sense  of  justice  or  mercy,  would  be  willing  to  accept 
forffiveness  of  his  sins  on  such  terms  !  Would  he  not  rather 
go  forward  and  offer  himself  wholly  up  to  suffer  all  the  i>enal- 
ties  due  to  his  crimes,  rather  than  the  innocent  should  suffer? 
Nay,  was  he  so  hardy  as  to  acknowledge  a  willingness  to  be 
saved  through  such  a  medium,  would  it  not  prove  that  he  stood 
in  dn-ect  opposition  to  every  principle  of  justice  and  honesty, 
of  mercy  and  love,  and  show  himself  to  be  a  poor  selfish  crea- 
ture, unworthy  of  notice  !* 

*  George  Wliitehead,  one  of  the  most  distinguished  and  approved  early  writers 
in  the  Society  of  Friends,  when  speaking  of  the  doctrine  of  satisfaction,  or  justification 
by  imputative  righteousness,  expresses  himself  in  the  following  terms,  viz.  "  The 
Quakers  see  no  need  of  directing  men  to  the  type  for  the  antitype,  viz.  neither  to  the 
outward  temple,  nor  yet  to  Jerusalem,  either  to  Jesus  Christ  or  his  blood  ;  knowing 
that  neither  the  righteousness  of  faith,  r\pr  the  word  of  it,  doth  so  direct.  (Rom.  x.) 
And  is  it  the  Baptists'  doctrine  to  direct  men  to  the  material  temple,  and  Jerusa- 
lem, the  type  for  the  antitype  1  What  nonsense  and  darkness  is  this  I  And 
where  do  the  Scriptures  say  the  blood  was  there  shed  for  justificatiofi,  and  that 
men  must  be  directed  to  Jerusalem  to  it  1  (Whereas,  that  blood  shed  is  not  in 
being.)  But  the  true  apostle  directed  them  to  the  light,  to  walk  in  the  light,  for 
the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  to  cleanse  them  from  all  sin." — Whitehead's  Light  and 
Life  of  Christ,  p.  34. 

"  You  blasphemously  charge  Divine  justice  with  punishing  your  sins  to  the  full 
in  Christ,  or  punishing  him,  that  was  ever  innocent,  to  the  full  for  your  sins;  so 
that  you  account  it  against  justice  to  punish  your  sins  again  in  you,  though  you 
live  and  die  in  them.  And  yet  you  think  it  an  excellent  piece  oi  justice,  to  punish 
the  innocent  to  the  full,  for  the  guilty.  But  your  mistake  in  this  is  gross,  as  will 
further  appear,  and  you  will  not  hereby  be  acquitted,  nor  cleared.  Thia  will  not 
prove  you  invested  with  Christ's  everlasting  righteousness,  nor  will  this  cover  your 
own  filthy  rags,  or  hide  your  shame. 

"  And  while  you  think  that  you  are  secured  in  your  sins,  from  the  stroke  of  jus- 
tice, as  having  been  fully  executed,  and  that  by  way  of  revenge,  upon  the  innocent 
Son  of  God,  in  punishing  your  sins  to  the  full  upon  him  ;  I  say,  while  you  state 
this  as  the  nature  of  the  satisfaction  by  Christ's  sufTering  in  your  stead,  the  whole 
world  may  as  well  acquit  itself  thereby  from  punishment  as  you  ;  for  he  died  for 
all,  and  is  '  the  propitiation  for  the  sins  of  the  whole  world.'  An  1  therefore  if  this 
must  be  looked  upon  as  the  full  punishment  of  sin,  that  it  was  laid  upon  Christ, 
and  that  '  the  sin  cannot  be  again  punished  after  such  satisfaction,'  this  may  make 
a  merry  world  in  sin— once  punished  to  the  full  in  Christ,  never  to  be  punished 
again  upon  the  offender,  which  the  law  directly  takes  hold  of.    Oh,  soothing  doc- 


WILLIAM    PCOLE.  129 

Having  given  thee  a  sketch  of  my  views  on  the  subject  of 
tliy  queries,  how  far  tliou  may  consider  them  correct,  1  must 
leave  to  thy  judgment  and  consideration  ;  and  may  now 
recommend  thee  to  shake  off  all  traditional  views  that  thou 
hast  imbibed  from  external  evidence,  and  turn  thy  mind  to  the 
light  within,  as  thy  only  true  teacher :  wait  patiently  for  its 
mstruction,  and  it  will  teach  thee  more  than  men  or  books  can 
do ;  and  lead  thee  to  a  clearer  sight  and  sense  of  what  thou 
desirest  to  know,  than  I  have  words  clearly  to  convey  it  to 
thee  in.  That  this  may  be  thy  experience,  is  my  sincere  de- 
sire ;  and  with  love  to  thyself  and  family,  I  conclude,  thy  affec- 
tionate friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO   WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

New  York;  5th  mo.  23(7,  1823. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Thy  affectionate  remembrance  of  the  24th  ult.  is  now  before 
nie,  having  perused  it  several  times,  and  not  witliout  feeling 
near  sympathy  with  thee  and  thy  dear  companion,  under 
your  present  bodily  affliction.  But  these  seemingly  unfavour- 
able tidings,  were  nevertheless  accompanied  with  a  comfortable 
hope,  that  through  the  patient  and  quiet  acquiescence  of  thy 
beloved  companion  to  tlie  present  dispensation  of  a  wise  and 
gracious  providence,  as  noted  in  thy  letter,  and  thy  intention 
to  copy  after  such  an  excellent  example,  will,  I  trust,  as  you 
continue  to  persevere  therein,  bring  you  to  witness  the  truth 
of  the  apostolic  declaration,  "  that  all  things  work  together  for 

trine  to  sinners!  the  plain  effect  of  which  is,  to  make  the  wicked  world  rejoice  in  a 
sinful  state,  and  say, '  O,  admirable  Justice,  that  was  pleased  thus  to  revenge  thy- 
self upon  an  innocent  man,  that  never  sinned,  and  to  punish  our  sin  to  the  full 
upon  him!  O  transcendent  mercy!  that  hast  found  out  this  expedient,  that  we 
might  be  fully  acquitted,  pardoned,  and  discharged  from  tlie  penalty  that  is  just 
and  due  to  us  for  all  our  sins,  past,  present,  and  to  come  I'  O !  what  glad  tidings 
are  these  to  the  hypocrites  and  drunkards." — G.  Whitehead,  Christian  Quaker, 
jyp.  404,  405. 

17 


130  LETTER    TO 

good,  to  them  that  love  God."  And  should  you  be  permitted 
to  finish  your  course  in  this  toilsome  probationary  state,  a  few- 
years  sooner  than  some  of  your  ancient  brethren  and  sisters, 
whose  lot  it  has  been  to  bear  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day ; 
yet  this  would  be  no  cause  of  regret  to  you,  but  rather  of  joy 
and  rejoicing,  in  the  fruition  of  tliat  sweet  peace  that  this 
world,  with  all  its  best  accommodations,  can  never  give, 
neither  can  the- want  of  them  ever  take  away,  nor  the  remem- 
brance of  them  tend,  in  the  least,  to  sully  that  joy  that  is 
unspealvable  and  full  of  glory. 

I  am  quite  in  sentiment  with  thee  respecting  the  case  of 
trial,  and  test  of  our.  religious  principles,  in  the  late  Yearly 
meeting  in  Philadelphia;*  and  had  there  not  been  light  and 
strength  enough  vouchsafed  by  the  head  of  the  church,  to 
condemn  and  put  to  silence  that  mass  of  incongruous  matter, 
brought  forward  by  a  party  in  the  Meeting  for  sufferings,  as  a 
creed,  or  test  of  the  faith  of  the  members  of  our  Society,  it 
would,  I  believe,  liave  convinced  every  sensible  enlightened 
member,  that  the  glory  of  the  Divine  presence  had  entirely  de- 
parted from  us,  or  at  least  as  much  so  as  from  any  of  the  formal 
professors  of  Christianity.  I  think  we  might  as  well  have  gone 
back  and  submitted  to  the  Episcopalian,  or  Presbyterian  creed, 
as  to  have  adopted  the  one  brought  forward  by  that  meeting. 

Please  to  remember  me  affectionately  to  thy  wife  and 
children,  and  with  a  large  share  to  thyself,  I  rest  thy  assured 
friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 

*  An  attempt  by  the  opposers  of  Elias Hicks  to  obtain  the  sanction  of  the  Yearly 
Meeting  to  a  document  called,  Extracts  from  the  Writings  of  Primitive  Friends, 
&c.,  and  intended  to  operate  as  a  creed  or  rest  of  faith ;  but  which  was  rejected  by 
the  meeting. 


JOHN    WILSON    MOORE.  131 

TO   J.   WILSON   MOORE,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Jericho,  6th  mo.  22d,  1823. 
Dear  Fkiend, 

Thy  very  acceptable  letter  of  oth  month  last  is  now  before 
rae,  and  has  received  several  perusals  with  additional  plea- 
sure, in  finding  the  views  and  sentiments  of  a  younger  brother 
so  coincident  with  my  own.  As  it  leads  to  the  anticipation 
of  a  hope,  that  the  Lord  has  not  forsaken  his  people,  but  is 
raising  up  many  from  among  the  younger  classes  of  society 
to  advocate  his  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the  earth. 
And  as  these  abide  faithful  in  lowliness  and  true  humility  and 
in  an  entire  abasedness  of  self,  and  move  forward  under  the 
leading  and  operation  of  Divine  love  and  light  upon  their 
minds,  some  of  these  will  be  qualified  and  enabled  to  advance 
the  cause  of  righteousness,  and  carry  forward  the  reformation 
to  a  greater  state  of  purity  and  perfection,  than  has  ever  been 
experienced  since  the  fall  of  man.  And  my  mind,  while  pen- 
ning these  lines,  is  inspired  with  gratitude  and  thanksgiving 
to  the  God  and  Father  of  all  our  sure  mercies,  in  that  he  hath 
been  graciously  pleased  to  lengthen  out  my  days,  to  see  and 
behold  the  approach  of  that  blessed  day.  Blessed  to  those 
who  are  prepared  to  receive  it,  a  day  in  which  the  Lord  is 
arising  to  shake  terribly  the  earth ;  but  to  those  who  oppose 
him  in  the  way  of  his  coming,  a  day  of  darkness  and  distress, 
of  burning  and  fuel  of  fire.  Wherein  a  birth  is  bringing  and 
will  be  brought  forth  in  many  minds  ;  not  an  outAvard  one, 
not  located  to  any  particular  place,  people,  or  person,  but  an 
inward  and  spiritual  one  ;  a  birth  begotten  of  God  in  every 
rational  soul  that  is  willing  and  prepared  to  receive  it,  in  like- 
ness and  operation  to  the  little  stone  that  Nebuchadnezzar  saw 
cut  out  without  hands,  or  the  aid  of  any  thing  that  is  mortal, 
and  which  that  outward  birth  of  Jesus  of  the  Virgin  Mary, 
was  a  figure  of,  he  being  located  and  limited  in  his  outward 
manifestation  to  the  people  of  Israel.  But  this  birtii  of  God, 
brougtit  forth  in   the  immortal  soul  of  man,  God  being  its 


132  LETTER    TO 

father,  and  the  willing,  devoted  soul  of  man  its  mother  :  this 
brings  us,  a)id  nothing  short  of  this  can  bring  us,  to  under- 
stand the  prophecy,  "  For  unto  us  a  child  is  born,  unto  us  a 
son  is  given ;"  or  in  other  words,  this  new  birth  of  the  spirit 
every  soul  of  man  must  witness  brought  forth  within,  or  he 
cannot  enter  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven.  This  is  fully  illus- 
trated by  the  apostle  Paul,  when  he  says,  "  For  as  many  as 
are  led  by  the  Spirit  of  God,  are  the  Sons  of  God,  and  if  sons, 
then  heirs,  heirs  of  God  and  joint  heirs  with  Christ."  This  is 
the  birth  and  Son  that  none  knoM'-  but  the  Father^  and  this  is 
the  Father  that  none  know  but  the  Son,  or  new  birth,  that  is, 
as  above  described,  begotten  by  him.  And  this  comprehends 
that  mystery  of  Godliness  that  is  hid  from  the  wise  and  pru- 
dent in  this  world  s  wisdom,  but  which  is  revealed  by  the  Fa- 
ther to  all  his  innocent  and  obedient  children,  who,  as  babes 
and  sucklings,  draw  all  their  life  and  support  from  the  breast 
of  divine  consolation.  And  although  those  who  have  been  as 
princes  among  the  people,  may  "  set  themselves,  and  the  rulers 
take  counsel  together,"  in  their  traditional  zeal,  "against 
the  Lord,  and  against  his  anointed :"  Yet  "  he  that  sitteth  in 
the  Heavens  shall  laugh  :  and  the  Lord  shall  have  them  in 
derision  ;  and  vex  them  in  his  sore  displeasure  ;"  and  will  cast 
up  a  way  for  all  his  faithful  and  devoted  children  to  walk  in  ; 
a  highway  of  holiness,  wherein  none  shall  be  able  to  make 
them  afraid.  May  the  Lord  hasten  it,  in  his  own  time  and 
will. 

As  thou  observes,  I  have  been  favoured  with  a  full  state- 
ment of  particulars  that  transpired  in  the  course  of  your 
Yearly  meeting.  And  it  was  cause  of  much  joy  to  my  mind, 
to  find  that  truth  bore  away  the  victory  a)id  triumphed  over 
delusion  and  error. 

I  shall  repay  thy  namesake's  kindness  in  his  (twn  coin; 
therefore  tell  him  from  me,  that  my  heart  would  be  truly  glad- 
dened to  see  him  come  forth  more  boldly  and  firmly  in  preach- 
ing the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God,  and  directing  the  minds 
of  the  people,  as  the  blessed  Jesus  and  the  worthy  G.  Fox 
did,  to  the  spirit  of  truth  or  light  within,  as  the  only  true  and 


JOHN    WILSON    MOORE.  133 

essential  teacher  and  way  of  salvation,  unembarrassed  and 
sepal ated  from  all  the  entanglements  of  Jewish  and  heathen- 
ish traditions  and  superstitions ;  as  also  from  all  and  every 
dependance  upon  any  external  evidence,  whether  it  be  the 
testimony  of  men  or  of  angels ;  for  even  outward  miracles 
are  not  sufficient  evidence  to  any  but  those  who  are  present 
at  the  time  of  their  manifestation,  and  even  then  they  often 
are  too  weak  to  gain  the  full  assent  of  a  rational  mind  ;  of 
course,  no  evidence  of  the  gospel.  For  what  a  sad  predica- 
ment would  the  professors  of  Christianity  be  in,  if  they  had 
no  evidence  of  its  truth  but  outward  miracles,  seeing  when  • 
they  were  accomplished  in  the  view  of  the  bystanders,  the 
magicians  of  Egypt  could  render  the  evidence  of  some  of 
them  doubtful.  Therefore  the  written  or  verbal  testimony  of 
an  outward  miracle,  is  no  certain  evidence  of  the  thing  spoken 
of,  hence  not  essential  to  us  under  the  gospel,  as  that  wholly 
depends  upon  much  higher  evidence.  For  had  Moses  told 
Pharaoh  and  the  Israelites,  that  the  Lord  had  sent  him  to 
deliver  Israel  from  their  bondage,  and  for  proof  of  his  mission, 
told  them,  that  v/hcn  he  was  in  the  wilderness,  where  the  Lord 
spoke  to  him,  in  order  to  confirm  them  in  the  truth  of  his 
message,  he  cast  his  rod  on  the  ground,  and  it  became  a  fright- 
ful serpent ;  and  when  he  was  cgmmanded  to  take  it  up  again, 
it  became  a  rod  in  his  hand :  had  Moses  come  down  with 
this  story,  would  they  not  have  been  unwise  to  have  believed 
him,  had  he  not  wrought  the  same  miracle  in  their  sight. 
Hence  we  learn  that  the  hear-tell  of  an  outward  miracle  is  no 
miracle  to  us,  and  of  course  is  no  sufficient  evidence  to  the 
real  truth  of  any  proposition  unless  supported  by  some  better 
evidence. 

As  to  what  thou  observes  respecting  the  crucifixion  of  Jesus 
on  the  outward  wooden  cross,  &c.  ;  I  meant  no  other  than 
what  thou  observest,  as  applying  only  to  the  believing  Jews, 
and  I  supposed  that  Avhat  I  wrote  to  N.  S.*  implied  the  same. 
Be  that  as  it  may,  that  was  the  idea  I  intended  to  convey ;  for 
although  that  offering  would  have  been   sufficient   for  the 

♦  Seelet'er  to  Nathan  Shoemaker. 


134  LETTER    TO 

whole  nation,  yet  those  who  did  not  beheve  on  him  rendered 
it  abortive.,  as  to  themselves,  and  therefore  they  lay  under  the 
penalties  annexed  to  any  breach  of  their  law. 

As  to  what  thou  observest  about  my  usins^  smoother  instru- 
ments in  order  to  render  my  work  more  pleasing  and  still  as 
usefid,  if  thou  shouldst  ever  be  brouglit  to  the  trial  from  expe- 
rience, the  answer  would  then  be  plain  ;  for  the  servant  has  no 
right  to  reason  from  consequences,  nor  to  use  any  manage- 
ment, but  when  he  is  commanded  to  smite  the  rock,  to  do  so, 
and  when  to  speak  calmly  to  it,  to  do  so,  let  the  consequence 
be  what  it  may.  And  if  a  Moses  could  not  be  permitted  to 
vary  in  the  least  degree,  from  the  simple  and  plain  word  of 
command,  wi'thout  incurring  a  severe  censure  and  a  great  loss 
to  himself,  what  can  such  as  I  expect,  if  we  undertake  to 
indite  for  Jehovah  ?  And  1  believe  many  precious  gifts  have 
been  greatly  marred  and  some  lost,  by  endeavouring  to  please 
man. 

Thou  wilt  not  impute  to  neglect  my  not  answering  thy  let- 
ter sooner,  when  I  tdl  thee,  that  such  is  the  number  of  letters 
received  from  many  of  my  dear  friends,  that  a  dozen  or  more 
still  remain  unanswered,  and  some  of  considerably  older  date 
than  thine  ;  although  I  have  industriously  filled  up  all  my 
time  to  clear  myself  of  debt,*  when  not  employed  in  other 
pressing  engagements. 

Please  present  my  dear  love  to  thy  wife  and  other  of  my  • 
dear  friends,  as  the  way  opens,  and  with  a  large  share  for 
thyself,  I  rest  thy  assured  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TOABRAHAM    LOWER,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Jericho,  1th  mo.  26th,  1823. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Although  considerable  time  has  elapsed  since  1  last  saw 
thee,  yet  the  length  of  time  and  distance  of  way  that  have 
separated  us,  have  not,  in  the  least,  diminished  that  cordial 


ABRAHAM    LOWER. 


135 


friendship  and  uniting  love,  tliat,  I  trust,  was  mutually  wit- 
nessed between  us,  in  the  course  of  my  last  visit  to  your  city  : 
in  the  fresh  feelings  of  which  I  affectionately  salnte  thee, 
attended  with  desires  that  grace,  mercy  and  peace  may  ho 
with  thee  and  abound.  And  this  no  doubt  will  be  experienced, 
as  we  are  unceasingly  engaged  to  dwell  deep  with  the  immortal 
seed  of  eternal  life  in  our  own  minds,  whereby  we  shall  be 
enabled  to  hold  fast  the  profession  of  our  faith  without  waver- 
ing, regardless  of  the  frowns  or  favours  of  mortals.  And  as 
we  persevere  herein,  through  all  the  bustles  and  tumults  that 
are  in  the  world,  and  in  its  spirit,  unshaken  and  immovable, 
in  and  through  this  day  of  trial  and  rebuke,  for  such  it  is,  in 
which  the  Lord  is  arising  to  shake  terribly  the  earth,  and  not 
only  the  earth,  but  the  heavens  also,  that  is,  every  false  rest 
and  self-created  place  of  refuge,  that  man,  in  his  own  devising, 
hath  set  up,  together  with  all  man's  earthly  dependance,  upon 
the  work  of  his  own  hands, — those  who  thus  persevere  without 
waverinof,  beina:  wilhng  to  endure  hardness  for  the  truth's  sake, 
will,  no  doubt,  in  the  close,  obtain  the  end  of  their  faith,  even 
the  salvation  of  their  souls. 

My  lot  and  service, since  my  return,  have  mostly  been  in 
and  about  home,  in  the  compass  of  our  own  monthly  meeting. 
1  have  likened  my  present  situation  to  that  of  Mordecai  of 
old,  sitting  quietly  and  patiently,  in  nothingness  of  self,  at  the 
waiting  gate  ;  a  situation  truly  grateful. 

I  understand  by  letters  from  your  city,  our  valued  friend. 
Priscilla  Hunt,  met  with  much  the  same  treatment,  while 
among  you,  as  fell  to  my  lot :  a  few  oppOsers,  but  many 
friends ;  that  truth  through  her  labours  reigned  triumphant. 
and  clothed  her  mind  with  peace  in  the  end,  which  is  cause 
of  gratefnl  acknowledgment  to  Him,  from  whom  all  our  rich 
blessmgs  flow. 

What  will  be  the  fate  of  these  opposers  ?  Have  they 
become  so  exalted  as  to  consider  themselves  only,  the  people, 
and  that  wisdom  will  die  with  them,  that  they  thus  withstand 
the  truth  ?  If  they  were  \vise  of  heart,  Avould  they  not  have 
learned  submission  to  the  truth,  and  to  their  friends,  by  the 


136 


LETTER  TO 


things  they  have  suffered,  and  no  longer,  by  their  adverse 
proceedings,  break  the  unity  and  disturb  the  peace  of  society. 
1  sorrow  for  them,  lest  they  put  off  repentance  to  too  late  an 
hour,  and  be  led  into  such  a  dilemma  as  to  become  fighters 
against  God  and  his  truth.  Surely  they  stand  in  great  need 
of  the  sympathy  and  prayers  of  the  faithful. 

My  bodily  health  is  much  the  same,  in  general,  as  when  I 
was  with  you,  and  my  peace  of  mind  and  confidence  in  the 
Divine  sufficiency  steady  and  unshaken.  To  the  Lord  be 
the  praise  of  his  own  works,  whose  power  is  over  all  in  the 
truly  obedient  and  humbly  devoted  soul. 

My  love  flows  to  all  my  friends,  particularly  to  those  united 
with  me  in  the  arduous  labour  of  visiting  families,  Samuel 
Noble,  Joseph  Warner,  and  George  Woolley ;  and  now,  with 
a  large  share  to  thyself,  dear  wife  and  family,  I  subscribe  thy 
sincere  friend. 

ELTAS  HICKS. 


TO  WILLIAM  POOLE.  WJLMINGTON. 

Jericho,  9thmo.  I2th,  1823. 
My  Dear  F'riend, 

Thy  letter  of  6th  mo.  last,  is  now  before  m,e,  and  which  I 
have  perused  a  number  of  times,  with  interest  and  satisfaction  ; 
and  although  nearly  three  months  have  elapsed  since  its 
reception,  without  an  answer,  yet  believe  jne,  my  dear  friend, 
it  is  not  owing  to  any  abatement  of  love,  and  sincere  regard 
for  thee  and  thine,  that  I  have  thus  procrastinated.  Being 
circumstanced  like  other  dependant  mortals,  who  have  not 
times  and  seasons  ut  their  conimand,  I  have  found  it  expedient 
to  wait,  not  only  to  know  the  right  time,  but  also  to  feel,  if 
possible,  some  right  qualification. 

And  although  I  cannot,  at  this  time,  lay  much  claim  to 
those  requisites,  yet,  having  thee  in  lively  remembrance,  witJi 
thy  dear  companion,  this  morning,  and  feeling  renewed  sym- 
pathy with  you,  I  was  induced  to  put  pen  to  paper,  although 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  137 

I  might  not  be  furnished  with  more  than  to  acknowledge  the 
continuance  of  my  brotherly  love,  and  sympathy  with  and  for 
you ;  accompanied  with  desires  for  your  steady  progress  in 
the  path  of  duty,  which  is  the  path  to  life  and  peace  ;  and  I 
may  add,  that  as  a  considerable  time  has  elapsed  since  I  have 
had  any  particular  account  from  you,  I  feel  desirous  to  hear 
how  you  fare. 

I  am  quite  of  the  mind  with  thee,  that  the  limitmg  power, 
given  to,  or  taken  by  our  meetings  for  sufferings  in  this  coun- 
try, is  inconsistent  with  the  true  liberty  of  the  gospel  state, 
and  repuonant  to  the  liberty  exercised  by  our  primitive  Friends. 
It  is  sorrowful  to  observe,  that  almost  every  right  step  of 
reformation  has  gone  down  to  the  grave  with  the  first  instru- 
ments of  such  reform,  or  soon  after.  Their  successors,  instead 
of  coming  up  in  the  same  life  and  power  that  qualified  the 
first  instruments  to  set  on  foot  the  work  of  right  reform, 
have  set  down  at  ease  in  their  labours,  as  tliough  the  work 
was  now  completed.  Hence  they  dwindled  into  a  state  of  life- 
less formality,  contenting  themselves  with  a  form  of  godliness, 
while,  in  their  lives  and  conduct,  they  manifestly  denied  the 
power  thereof ;  which  only  can  redeem  the  soul  from  sin  and 
death.  Then  in  come  creeds  and  confessions  of  faith  in  lieu 
thereof,  formed  out  of  materials  made  ready  to  their  hands, 
like  as  is  represented  by  the  brick  and  mortar  made  use  of  by 
the  sons  of  Noah,  that  is,  they  are  endeavouring  to  get  to 
heaven  through  other  men's  experience,  without  coming  to 
know  and  witness  in  themselves  the  heart-rending  power  of 
Divine  love  and  light,  by  which  the  man  of  sin  and  son  of 
perdition  in  them,  might  have  been  fully  revealed ;  and  by 
their  willing  obedience  to  the  operation  thereof,  and  their  co- 
working  with  it,  they  might  have  come  to  witness,  as  their 
faithful  predecessors  had  done,  the  man  of  sin  cast  out,  and 
know  a  deliverance  from  the  power  of  darkness,  and  a  being 
translated  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  But,  alas  !  instead  there- 
of, "  how  is  the  gold  become  dim !  how  is  the  most  fine  gold 
changed !"  The  beautiful  sons  of  the  morning  of  our  day, 
viz.  our  faithful  and  worthy  predecessors,  comparable  to  fine 

18 


138  LETTER    TO 

gold,  how  are  too  many  of  their  successors  changed  and  be- 
come as  earthen  pitchers. 

The  records  aAd  testimonies  of  past  ages,  amongst  all  na- 
tions, show  the  short  existence  and  continuance  of  every 
right  reformation,  even  from  the  days  of  Noah  up  to  the  pre- 
sent time.  The  family  of  Noah,  although  so  awfully  warned, 
how  soon  they  returned  to  their  old  courses.  The  reformation, 
tlu-ough  Moses  and  Joshua,  and  the  elders  of  Israel,  lasted  no 
longer  than  to  the  time  of  their  death  ;  and  the  several  reforms 
after  the  death  of  these,  by  prophets  and  such  as  the  Lord 
raised  up  for  that  end,  were  of  short  duration.  So  likewise, 
the  reform  produced  by  Jesus  and  his  disciples,  lasted  very  lit- 
tle longer  than  the  life  of  John,  the  beloved  apostle  ;  and  with 
Avhat  mighty  power  did  Anti-christ  reign  from  the  beginning 
of  the  third  century  until  Luther's  small  reform,  which  was 
soon  lost  in  his  successors.  It  so  fared  with  Calvin  and  some 
others,  up  to  the  time  of  George  Fox  ;  and,  although  his  reform 
very  far  exceeded  all  others  since  the  fall  of  primitive  Chris- 
tianity, yet  alas  !  how  is  life,  how  is  power,  how  is  faithfulness 
wanting  among  a  very  great  portion  of  his  successors?  Many 
of  whom,  nevertheless,  are  very  zealous  to  set  up  forms  and 
confessions  of  faith,  instead  of  coming  to  and  submitting  them- 
selves to  the  real  life  and  power  of  Godliness  ;  which,  if  it  is 
abode  in,  renders  all  creeds  and  confessions  of  faith  nugatory 
and  of  no  avail. 

In  answer  to  thy  request  respecting  my  age,  &c.,  I  may 
reply,  that  according  to  the  record  of  my  birth,  as  found  in  an 
ancient  Bible  in  my  father's  possession,  I  was  born  the  19th 
day  of  3d  month,  1748.  My  father  was  considered  a  member 
among  Friends  at  the  time  of  my  birth,  which  in  that  day  gaA'e 
me  the  privilege  of  taking  a  wife  in  the  order  of  Society,  and 
that  established  my  membership.  My  mother  was  never  in 
strict  fellowship  Avith  any  religious  society,  but  was  a  woman 
of  strict  morality,  and  generally  beloved  and  respected  by  her 
neighbours  and  acquaintance  of  every  profession.  She  died 
with  the  consumption,  when  I  was  about  ten  years  of  age. 

I  was  born  in  Q,ueens  County,  Long  Island,  on  the  north 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  139 

side  of  the  great  plains,  generally  known  by  the  name  of 
Hempstead  Plains,  about  three  miles  west  of  the  meeting- 
house at  Westbury  ;  but  in  my  eighth  year,  my  father  removed 
to  the  sea  shore,  on  the  south  side  of  the  island,  where  I  con- 
tinued to  reside  until  married  :  I  then  settled  at  Jericho,  my 
present  residence. 

As  to  thy  inquiry,  whether  I  have  any  settled  intention 
respecting  leaving  a  journal  of  my  life,  (fcc,  I  am  at  present 
not  prepared  to  answer.  For,  although  I  have  made  some  notes 
of  my  journeys,  and  of  some  things  that  have  transpired  in 
the  course  of  my  pilgrimage,  yet  I  have  doubts,  of  latter  time, 
whether  there  is  a  propriety  and  a  utility  in  so  much  written 
testimony,  or  whetlier  it  does  not  tend  to  clog  and  shut  up  the 
avenue  to  better  instruction,  and  whether,  what  is  revealed  to 
one  generation,  is  as  likely  to  be  profitable  to  a  succeeding  one, 
as  to  that  to  which  it  was  particularly  directed  and  opened, 
and  therefore,  to  intrude  that  upon  a  succeeding  generation, 
which  was  particularly  adapted  and  suited  to  the  state  of  a 
previous  one,  may  it  not  have  a  tendency  to  cause  the  suc- 
ceeding generation  to  look  back  to  the  letter,  instead  of  keep- 
ing a  single  eye  to  the  spirit,  which  can  only  furnish  us  with 
knowledge  and  ability  to  make  progress  in  reformation  ?  For 
nothing  short  of  an  advancement  in  light  can  enable  us  to 
advance  reformation.  Therefore  every  generation  must  have 
more  light  than  the  preceding  one,  otherwise  they  must  sit 
down  at  ease,  in  the  labour  and  works  of  their  predecessors, 
and  hence,  of  such  it  might  be  said,  ye  have  done  nothing 
at  all,  ye  have  only  lived  in  a  state  of  idleness  on  the  labour 
of  your  fathers. 

Just  like  such  young  men,  who  have  a  very  large  temporal 
property  left  them  by  their  fathers,  and  therefore  think  they 
have  enough  without  labour.  And  although  it  may  bring  them 
through  tolerably  well,  yet,  as  they  bring  their  cliildren  up  in 
idleness,  we  find  the  third  or  fourth  generation  are  often 
reduced  to  a  state  of  abject  poverty ;  and  it  is  the  same,  I 
believe,  in  religion.  And  this  accounts  for  the  falling. away 
of  every  right  reformation,  tlie  successors   of  the  reformers 


140  LETTER    TO 

sittino^  down  in  a  state  of  idleness  in  the  labour  of  their  pre- 
decessors. And  is  it  not  reasonable  to  suppose,  that  what  was 
revealed  to  our  predecessors  was  most  peculiarly  adapted  to 
them  and  to  their  states,  and  not  to  ours  of  a  succeeding  gene- 
ration. 

J6SUS  says,  "  I  have  yet  many  things  to  say  unto  you,  but 
ye  cannot  bear  them  now.  Howbeit  when  he,  the  Spirit  of 
Truth,  is  come,  he  will  guide  you  into  all  truth."  This  cer- 
tainly is  better  than  the  journals  and  epistles  of  men's  writing, 
in  a  previous  age,  although  written  by  Divine  inspiration. 

I  must  now  conclude,  with  just  observing,  that  since  I  began 
this  letter,  I  have  been  informed  that  our  friend  Isaac  Stephen- 
son, from  old  England,  has  appointed  a  meeting  to-morrow  at 
this  place.  I  have  not  yet  seen  him,  but  reports  speak  well  of 
him,  as  a  plain,  simple,  worthy  Friend,  and  a  good  minister. 
He  proposes  taking  some  meetings  this  way. 

In  much  love  to  thee  and  thine,  in  which  my  v.afe  and 
daughter  Elizabeth  unite,  I  subscribe  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO  SAMUEL  COMFORT,  BUCKS  COUNTY,  PA. 

Flushing,  mil  mo.  22d,  1823. 
My  Dear  Fbiend, 

Thine  of  last  month  was  duly  received,  and  was  very 
acceptable,  for  although  as  to  any  outward  acquaintance,  thou 
art  to  me  an  entire  stranger,  yet  in  the  feeling  of  that  love 
that  is  stronger  than  death,  and  which  binds  together  all  the 
living  children  of  the  Heavenly  Father's  family,  I  feel  thee 
near  in  the  unity  of  the  one  spirit,  and  in  the  fresh  feelings 
thereof  I  greet  thee,  accompanied  with  desires  that  grace, 
mercy,  and  peace  may  be  with  thee  and  abound. 

I  am  here  attending  our  Quarterly  meeting,  and  have  with 
me  a  minute  of  concurrence  from  our  Monthly  meeting,  with 
a  concern  T  have  some  time  felt,  to  perform  a  small  tour  of 
religious  duty  to  some  of  the  adjacent  quarters  of  our  Yearly 


SAMUEL    COJIFORT.  141 

meeting,  and  look  up  some  of  the  publicans  and  f-inners,  who, 
or  many  of  them,  as  Jesus  said,  are  likely,  I  think,  to  enter 
into  the  kingdom  sooner  than  many  of  our  high  professing 
scribes  and  Pharisees,  who  are  not  only  not  willing  to  enter 
themselves,  but  are  endeavouring  to  hinder  those  that  would. 

As  my  time  is  limited  I  shall  not  write  much  at  present,  but 
may  just  add,  tliat  I  unite  \\dth  thee,  that  the  views  generally 
held  by  the  professors  of  Christianity,  as  to  what  it  is  and  who 
it  is,  that  bruises  the  serpent's  head,  are  very  incorrect,  as  they 
consider  it  all  effected  by  the  man  Christ  Jesus.  But  he  only 
did  his  own  part ;  for  the  woman  here  is  spoken  of  by  way 
of  allegory,  as  representing  the  true  church,  the  King  of 
Heaven's  true  spouse,  whose  seed  comprehends  all  the  faithful 
devoted  cliildren  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  all  of  whom  have 
their  part  in  bruising  the  serpent's  head,  by  slaying  the  enmity 
in  themselves ;  by  getting  a  complete  conquest,  through  the 
aid  of  Divine  grace,  over  tiie  serpentine  wisdom  of  the  crea- 
ture, that  leads  the  mhid  into  reasoning  against  the  Divine 
commands,  aided  by  the  natural  propensities  of  the  earthly  or 
fleshly  part ;  from  whicli  all  our  temptations  arise.  Hence 
there  is  always  enmity  between  the  flesh  and  the  spirit,  until 
one  or  the  other  overcomes ;  for  the  flesh  warreth  against  the 
spirit,  and  the  spirit  against  the  flesh  :  hence  the  creature  hath 
no  true  peace  until  the  spirit  overcomes  and  subjects  and 
silences  all  the  motions  of  the  flesh.  Then  the  creature  can 
rejoice  and  say  with  one  formerly,  "  There  is  therefore  now 
no  condenmation  to  them  which  are  in  Christ  Jesus,"  that  is, 
those  who  through  Divine  grace  have  come  up  into  his  like- 
ness, into  his  righteousness,  into  his  image,  "  who  walk  not 
after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  spirit.  For  the  law  of  the  spirit 
of  life  in  Christ  Jesus."  or  the  same  law  that  ruled  and  go- 
verned in  Jesus  Christ,  "  hath  made  me  free  from  the  law  of 
sin  and  death."  Even  so  let  it  be  in  all  the  Lord's  children, 
even  Amen  for  ever. 

In  nuich  love  to  thee  and  thine,  I  rest  thy  sincere  friend. 

EUAS  HICKS. 

P.  S.  Please  to  remember  me  aflfectionately  to  all  my  friends 


il2 


LETTER    TO 


in  thy  neighbourhood,  as  way  opens  in  thy  freedom,  not  for- 
getting thy  brother  John.  E.  H. 


TO   WILLIAM    POOLE,   WILMINGTON. 

Jeridw,  \2lh  vw.  7th,  1823. 
My  Deab  Friend, 

Thy  letters  of  9th  month  18th,  10th  month  24th,  and  11th 
month  26th,  that  remain  unanswered,  are  now  before  me.  And 
although  I  could  give  several  reasons  for  not  answering  them, 
yet  I  will  mention  but  one,  and  that  is,  way  has  not  opened 
for  it  until  now  :  and  notwithstanding  a  near  sympathy  with 
thee  in  thy  tribulations  has  been  witnessed,  yet  it  may  be  that 
Infinite  Wisdom,  in  the  riches  of  his  love,  is  leading  thee  off 
from  all  outward  dependances,  that  so  thy  hope  and  trust  may 
be  more  fully  and  firmly  fijced  on  him  alone,  who  is  the  ever- 
lasting and  inexhaustible  source  of  strength  and  consolation. 
And  although  the  severing  of  those  who  have  been  bound 
together  in  the  strong  bands  of  conjugal  love,  is  like  the 
parting  of  bone  from  bone,  yet,  as  all  our  rich  blessings  are 
but  the  goods  of  our  kind  and  gracious  benefactor,  and  are 
only  loaned  to  us  during  his  good  pleasure,  so  when  he  calls 
for  them,  as  they  are  his  just  right,  we  ought  cheerfully  to 
surrender  them,  with  due  acknowledgments  and  gratitude  for 
the  unmerited  favour,  in  suffering  us  to  enjoy  them  so  long  as 
we  have.  To  which  I  may  add  for  thy  increased  comfort,  that 
I  have  not  the  least  doubt,  that,  although  the  absence  of  thy 
dear  companion  may  seem  to  thee  at  the  first  view,  a  great 
loss,  it  is  to  her  an  eternal  gain,  and  may  eventually  also,  as 
thou  acquiesces  in  the  Divine  will,  bring  thee  to  realize,  in 
contemplation,  a  portion  of  that  celestial  joy  that  encircles 
her  mansion. 

As  relates  to  a  memoir  of  my  life,  (fee,  it  appears  that  my 
reasons  for  objecting  to  such  a  publication,  are  not  satisfactory 
to  thee.  What  those  reasons  were  I  do  not  remember,  as  I 
have  no  copy  of  that  letter,  and  I  seldom  keep  a  copy  of  my 
letters,  unless  they  are  of  a  controversial  kind.     But  may  now 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  113 

further  observe,  t}iat  I  agree  with  thee,  that  the  abuse  of  a 
blessing  is  no  argument  against  its  being  dispensed ;  but  it 
must  be  first  proved  that  the  thing  is  a  blessing,  and  was 
intentionally  dispensed  as  such,  by  the  great  Dispenser  of  all 
real  good.  I  have  no  doubt  when  the  apostle,  under  the 
influence  of  Divine  love,  addressed  an  epistle  to  the  Corin- 
thians, that  he  was  rightly  directed  therein,  and  as  he  knew 
and  was  led  into  a  right  knowledge  of  their  states,  so  he  could 
administer  to  their  needs  and  to  their  instruction.  But  I  do  not 
apprehend  that  he  had  the  most  distant  idea  that  he  was  writing 
to  nations  yet  unborn,  and  of  whose  state  and  condition  he 
could  have  no  knowledge.  Nor  do  I  believe  that  Divine  Wis- 
dom, when  he  influenced  the  mind  of  the  apostle  to  write  his 
several  epistles  to  the  Corinthians,  &c.,  intended  them  for  a 
rule  to  after  ages ;  for  had  that  been  the  case,  he  would  have 
made  them  as  plain  and  clear  as  he  did  the  law  to  Israel,  so 
.  that  every  one  should  understand  them  alike.  And  although 
the  law  to  Israel  does  not  concern  us  in  the  present  day,  yet 
every  one  that  sees  it  reads  it  alike — it  admits  of  no  con- 
troversy. But  not  so  with  the  writings  of  the  apostles ;  for 
the  best  and  wisest  of  men  disagree  respecting  them.  And 
the  Scriptures  of  the  primitive  Christians,  from  the  early  ages 
of  Christianity,  have  been  made  a  principal  cause  of  the 
division,  the  controversy,  the  war,  and  the  persecution  and 
cruelty,  that  have  convulsed  and  drenched  Christendom  in 
blood  ever  since  it  has  been  called  Christendom.  And  does  it 
not  impeach  the  wisdom  and  goodness  of  our  great  Benefac- 
tor, to  suppose  he  ever  intended  those  writings  as  a  rule,  when 
the  best  of  men  cannot  understand  them  alike  ? 

Eat  the  reason  is  obvious.  The  gospel  law  is  inward  and 
spiritual,  and  cannot  be  comprehended  in  outward  characters, 
but  must  be  written  in  every  heart  distinctly,  as  our  states  and 
conditions  are  all  different  and  distinct ;  and  it  is  always  suited 
to  the  state  and  condition  of  every  heart,  and  of  course  must 
act  diversely  in  each  mind,  according  to  the  diversity  of  their 
several  dispositions,  propensities  and  passions.  Therefore  no 
literal  law.  or  creed,  can  take  place  under  the  gospel,  except 


144  LETTER  TO 

in  moral  or  outward  things  ;  for  no  outward  law  can  bind 
the  soul,  as  the  government  of  the  soul  is  exclusively  the  pre- 
rogative of  God  and  not  of  man. 

Thou  sayest,  the  same  arguments  would  operate  against 
preaching  the  gospel ;  but  I  say  nay,  not  in  the  least  degree  ; 
for  if  the  minister  is  under  the  right  influence,  he  will  be  led 
more  or  less  into  the  very  state  and  condition  of  the  hearers, 
and  his  words  will  carry  their  ovaii  evidence,  b(Mng  clothed 
with  power.  But  it  cannot  be  so  with  epistles  Avriltcn  to  cer- 
tain states  a  thousand  years  ago.  And  I  make  no  doubt  but 
thou  sees  clearly,  that  should  we  now  go  to  make  up  a  rule,  or 
creed,  from  the  waitings  of  primitive  Friends,  what  breach  of 
harmony,  nay  what  confusion  it  would  make  in  Society.  And 
although  preaching  the  gospel  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down 
from  heaven,  is  the  best  and  most  excellent  of  all  outward 
means,  and  it  was  all  that  Jesus  directed  his  disciples  to  practise, 
yet  I  will  also  admit  that  epistles  may  be  written  suited  to  the 
time  in  which  they  are  written.  Nevertheless,  if  the  right 
improvement  was  made  by  every  generation,  truths  would  be 
so  opened  in  every  age  as  to  supersede  the  use  of  what  had 
gone  before.  Thus  an  advancement  in  reformation  would  be 
experienced,  old  things  would  be  left  behind,  and  new  things, 
in  the  wisdom  of  trutli,  would  be  opened  on  the  minds  of 
honest  travellers  Zion-ward. 

But,  alas  !  instead  of  pressing  forward  toward  ihe  mark  for 
the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus,  how  many 
are  looking  back  to  the  weak  and  beggarly  elements,  to  which 
they  seem  willing  to  be  in  bondage. 

Had  the  successors  of  the  apostles  attended,  as  they  ought 
to  have  done,  to  the  command  given  by  Jesus  to  his  disciples, 
to  wait  for  the  promise  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  as  no  doubt  they 
were  directed  to  do  by  the  disciples,  that  being  the  only  neces- 
sary and  sufficient  qualification  to  preach  the  gospel,  as  the 
disciples  had  done,  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  hea- 
ven accompanying  their  words,  and  so  in  succession  from 
jeneration  to  generation,  the  apostacy  never  could  have  en- 
iijred.     But  instead  thereof,  they  turned  their  attention  to  the 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  145 

letter,  one  crying  I  am  of  Paul,  another  T  am  of  Apollos,  (fee, 
and  neglected  the  spirit ;  hence  divisions  and  contentions  ori- 
ginated in  the  church,  and  destroyed  the  peace  and  unity 
thereof,  and,  in  process  of  time,  plunged  it  into  a  desperate 
state  of  total  darkness.  The  same  late  from  the  same  cause 
has  befallen,  in  a  great  degree,  our  poor  Society.'  But  had 
Friends  kept  to  the  light  and  spirit  of  truth,  as  recommended 
in  the  preaching  of  George  Fox  and  our  primitive  worthies, 
and  waited  for  its  clear  manifestation,  and  moved  only  under 
the  operation  of  its  power,  no  apostacy  could  have  entered  ;  but 
the  Society  ere  now  would  have  made  great  advancement  on 
the  labours  and  experience  of  those  early  worthies.  Many 
things  would  have  been  opened  in  succession  on  the  minds  of 
the  faithful,  by  the  same  light  of  truth,  that  George  Fox  and 
the  people  of  that  day  could  not  have  borne.  But  instead 
thereof,  Friends  turned  their  attention  back  to  the  letter  of  the 
Scriptures  and  the  writings  of  our  primitive  Friends,  which 
were  particularly  useful  in  the  day  and  time  in  which  they 
were  written  ;  but  in  after  time,  when  the  light  was  leading, 
or  would  have  led,  all  who  were  faithful  to  its  manifestations, 
to  an  advancement  to  greater  and  brighter  experience  in  di- 
vine things,  they  have  blocked  up  their  own  way  by  an  undue 
attention  to  the  letter. 

But  when  the  light  is  calling  away  from  these  weak  and 
beggarly  elements,  those  old  writings  are  no  more  nor  less- 
than  the  letter  that  killeth,  and,  if  rested  in,  will  have  the  same 
effect  as  the  reading  of  the  law  of  Moses  had  upon  the  primi- 
tive disciples;  it  will  and  does  bring  a  veil  upon  the  heart,  and 
turns  backward  to  a  former  dispensation,  instead  of  leading 
forward  in  the  new  and  living  way,  which  only  can  add  fresh 
life  and  vigour  to  the  soul,  and  enable  it  to  go  forward  on  its 
heavenly  journey,  without  fainting  by  the  way. 

Could  I  pen  down  something  that  might  be  useful  to  the 
present  and  succeeding  generation,  and  then  be  obliterated,  it 
might  not  be  amiss  ;  but  as  I  am  looking  forward  in  tlie  faith, 
that  greater  and  brighter  things  will  be  opened  to  a  succeed- 
ing generation,  than  1  and  the  people  of  this  generation  can 

19 


146  LETTER    TO 

bear,  tliis  makes  me  unwilling-  to  leave  any  thing  of  my  expe- 
rience, that  might  tend  to  hinder  the  reception  of  those  new 
and  advanced  revelations.  For  thou  seest  clearly,  I  trust,  that 
the  writings  called  the  Scriptures,  and  those  of  our  primitive 
Friends,  are  the  strongest  bulwark  made  use  of  by  the  car- 
nally-minded, to  put  to  silence  new  openings  of  trutli,  on  the 
minds  of  the  faithful  in  the  present  day. 

I  might  add,  but  must  draw  to  a  close  for  want  of  room  ;  and 
in  renewed  feeling  of  brotherly  love  to  thee  and  thine,  bid 
farewell. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 

N.  B.  Please  to  excuse  the  incorrectness  of  my  letter,  as  I 
have  not  time  to  copy  it,  nor  room  for  much  alteration,  but 
hope  thou  wilt  be  able  to  come  at  the  substance. 

E.  H. 


TOABRAHAM    LOWER,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Jericho,  \st  mo.  26ih,  1S24. 
My  truly  beloved  Friend, 

Thy  very  acceptable  letter  of  tlie  15th  ult.  came  duly  to 
hand,  a-nd  its  salutary  contents  revived  afresh,  that  near  sym- 
pathy, fellow  feeling  and  unity,  I  trust  mutually  witnessed, 
when  favoured  with  each  other's  company  for  a  short  season, 
and  at  which  time  was  verified  that  saying,  "  As  iron  sharp- 
enetb  iron,  so  doth  a  man's  countenance  that  of  his  friend." 

T  often  look  back  v/ith  pleasure  on  the  time  1  spent  with 
my  dear  friends  at  Philadelphia,  and,  in  a  particular  manner, 
the  near  unity  and  fellowship  witnessed  with  those  of  Green 
Street  monthly  meeting,  whom  1  visited  in  the  Gospel  of 
Christ.  And  although  the  enemy  of  all  good  seemed  busy  in 
endeavouring  to  stir  up  opposition,  yet,  through  the  con- 
descending goodness  of  Israel's  Shepherd,  the  truth  was  raised 
so  above  him,  and  so  bruised  his  head,  that  he  had  no  power 
to  bruise  the  heel,  but  was  cast  out  into  the  earth,  the  habita- 


ABRAHAM    LOWER.  147 

tion  of  beasts.  And,  dear  friend,  seeing  the  Lord,  by  his  own 
right  hand  of  power,  hath  been  with  us,  and  preserved  us  thus 
far,  and  hath  enabled  us  to  set  up  our  Ebenezer,  let  us  thank 
him  and  take  courage,  standing  fast  in  the  faith,  without 
wavering  or  turning  aside  in  the  least  degree,  although  all 
men  may  rise  up  against  us  ;  ever  remembering,  however  we 
may  be  buffeted  within  or  without,  his  grace  is  sufficient  for 
us  in  the  midst  of  all  our  tribulations ;  and  as  we  continue 
faithful,  without  turning  aside,  to  the  right  hand  or  to  the  left, 
through  the  fear  or  favour  of  man,  lie  will  carry  us  through 
and  over  all  to  his  praise  who  is  calling  us  to  glory  and 
virtue. 

I  find  by  thy  letter  that  some  of  your  elders,  (fee.  are  still 
proceeding  in  the  same  disorderly  manner,  as  when  I  was 
with  you.  How  presuming,  for  a  quarterly  meeting  of 
ministers  and  elders,  to  intermeddle  with  the  local  concerns  of 
a  monthly  meeting.  I  should  not  think  it  necessary  for  the 
monthly  meeting  to  pay  any  attention  to  them,  nor  be  turned 
aside  from  proceeding  in  the  regular  line  of  discipline,  with 
any  of  their  members,  whether  ministers  or  elders,  who  act 
disorderly  by  breaking  the  unity  of  the  meeting.  We  have  a 
small  number  in  our  quarterly  meeting  who  seem  to  have 
been  led  away  somewhat  in  a  manner  similar  to  those  in  your 
city,  who  opposed  us  when  I  was  with  you  ;  but  they  are  more 
mild,  and  some  of  them  seem  as  though  they  might  again 
come  into  unity  with  Friends. 

I  have  been  engaged  of  late  around  the  suburbs  of  our 
quarter  in  searching  out,  in  the  highways  and  hedges,  the 
halt,  the  maimed,  and  the  blind,  among  Episcopalians,  Pres- 
byterians, Baptists,  Methodists,  and  Nothing-arians,  and  I 
perceive,  among  th^  ministers  of  the  various  sects,  my  commu- 
nicatioris  have  made  the  Methodists  the  most  uneasy ;  they 
talk  pretty  loud,  and  finding  no  better  way  to  vent  their 
malice,  they  have  been  endeavouring  to  prove  that  I  am  no 
Quaker,  and,  Herod  and  Pontms  Pilate  like,  the  Presbyterian 
minister  and  Methodist  have  made  friends,  in  order  to  perse- 
cute me ;  but  their  arrows  are  all  blunted  like  those  in  your 


148  LETTER    TO 

city ;  they  dont  hurt,  they  fall  to  the  ground  before  they  reach 
me.  I  was  out  in  this  Httle  tour  about  eleven  days,  and 
attended  seventeen  meetings,  and  previous  thereto,  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  fall,  I  visited  three  of  the  adjacent  quarterly 
meetings,  next  above  our  quarter,  and  have  great  cause  of 
humble  gratitude  and  thankfulness  to  the  great  and  blessed 
Author  of  all  our  rich  mercies  and  blessings,  who  continued  to 
be  near,  a  present  helper  in  every  needful  time  :  blessed  be  hia 
great  and  excellent  name,  for  his  mercy  endureth  for  ever.       t 

I  have  circulated  the  proposals  thou  sent  me,  on  behalf  of 
Joseph  Rakestraw,  for  printing  the  Christian  Quaker,  by  "Wil- 
liam Penn  and  Georsre  Whitehead. 

I  apprehend,  with  t]ie  present  prospect,  he  may  go  on  with 
the  work,  and  strike  off  a  pretty  large  edition.  And  1  am 
like-minded  with  thee,  that  there  has  not  been  a  time,  previous 
to  the  present,  that  these  writings  could  be  read  to  more  ad- 
vantage and  profit  than  at  this  time  ;  for  such  was  the  bias  of 
tradition  and  superstition  that  covered  with  darkness  the 
minds  of  the  people  when  they  were  first  published,  that  none 
but  a  iew  of  the  most  enlightened,  could  then  bear  them. 
The  people's  minds  in  general  were  so  bound  down  by  the 
prejudice  of  a  corrupt  education,  and  by  the  teachings  of  their 
blind  leaders,  that  they  were  offended  at  every  advancement 
of  reformation.  For  traditional  religion,  as  the  records  of  past 
time  assure  us,  cannot  admit  of  any  advancement,  hence  we 
see  that  traditional  religion  is  always  a  persecuting  one,  and 
always  stands  in  opposition  to  reform. 

To  conclude :  may  grace,  mercy,  and  peace  be  with  thee 
and  abound,  and  may  the  Lord  Almighty  be  thy  stay  and  thy 
staff  in  every  proving  season,  and  carry  thee  through  and 
over  all,  to  the  praise  of  his  great  and  excellent  name,  who  is 
over  all,  blessed  for  ever. 

In  near  and  dear  love  to  thee  and  thine,  I  rest  thy  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 

N.  B.  Please  to  present  my  love  to  inquiring  friends,  espe- 
cially those  who  were  united  with  me  in  the  work  of  the  Gospel, 


ABRAHAM    LOWER.  149 

as  also  in  the  fellowsliip  of  the  sufFerina^  and  joy  dispensed  to 
us  in  the  visit  to  the  famihes  in  your  monthly  meeting,  not 
forg-ettina:  our  ancient  friend  George  Justice. 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  3d  mo.  2Qih,  1824. 
Dear  Friend, 

Thy  kind  letter  of  the  3d  instant  came  duly  to  hand  and 
fully  confirmed  my  suspicion  concerning  thee,  that  something 
had  transpired  which  led  to  so  long  silence,  and  I  had  become 
very  anxious  to  hear  from  thee,  before  the  reception  of  the 
letter  above  alluded  to  ;  the  contents  of  which,  if  possible, 
have  increased  my  sympathy  with  and  for  thee  in  thy  present 
afflicted  state  ;  accompanied  with  a  hope,  that  thou  mayest  be 
favoured  yet,  to  see  good  days  and  be  enabled  to  join  thy 
rightly  exercised  brethren  in  the  arduous  labour,  in  pulling 
down  error  and  exalting  the  standard  of  truth  upon  its  own 
sure  foundation. 

The  following  Essay  was  written  some  time  past  by  a  cor- 
respondent of  mine,  in  answer. to  a  small  pamphlet  entitled, 
"  A  False  Position  Exposed."  The  author,  to  show  what  he 
considered  a  false  position,  observes,  that  "  some  persons  dog- 
matically asserted  that  we  are  under  no  obligation  to  believe 
what  we  do  not  understand." 

The  tract  entitled,  "  A  False  Position  Exposed,"  has  fallen 
short  of  its  design,  so  far  as  it  relates  to  me,  in  rendering  a 
reason  for  rejecting  a  doctrine,  founded  in  reason  and  substan- 
tiated by  experience. 

From  the  tenor  of  the  arguments  adduced  to  expose  the  un- 
soundness of  the  position,  I  am  convinced  the  writer  has  mis- 
taken its  nature  and  legitimate  meaning.  If  he  had  quoted 
the  writers  in  the  affirmative  of  the  question,  we  should  have 
been  able  to  judge  more  accurately  of  the  motive  which  caused 
them  to  adopt  and  promulgate  the  sentiment.  For  my  own 
part  I  am  willing  to  be  considered  a  friend  to  the  proposition, 


150  LETTER    TO 

and  fearlessly  assert,  that  we  can?iot,  and  therefore  are  not, 
bound  to  believe  what  we  cannot  comprehend.  I  observed 
the  position  is  founded  in  reason,  because  it  is  the  essential 
property  of  reason  to  analyze  every  subject  which  challenges 
belief,  and  decide  according  to  the  greater  measure  of  evidence  ; 
and  if  the  subject  brought  before  its  view  is  too  mighty  for  its 
limited  powers,  it  must  remain  in  darkness ;  for  it  is  an  un- 
doubted truth,  that  secret  things  belong  to  God,  but  things 
revealed,  to  us  and  our  children.  It  therefore  follows  that 
things  which  are  secret  cannot  be  believed,  because  they  can- 
not be  comprehended :  the  admission  of  this  theory  limits  the 
mind  to  the  acknowledgment  of  truths  revealed,  and  effectually 
prevents  our  professing  to  know  and  understand  things  or 
subjects  which  have  been  kept  secret  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world.  It  would  bring  to  pass  what  the  author  of  the 
expose  says ;  "  It  is  extremely  desirable  that  every  man  should 
use  his  own  understanding,  and  not  implicitly  take  any  thing 
for  granted,  as  being  wise  and  true,  merely  because  another 
person  may  dogmatically  and  roundly  assert  it  to  be  so." 
And  it  would  present  insuperable  difficulties  to  the  conscien- 
tious sectarian  when  required  to  acknowledge  creeds  and  sys- 
tems, which  their  warmest  advocates  admit  are  contradictory. 
No  matter  how  true  a  proposition  or  thing  may  be,  or  is  in 
itself,  if  the  witness  does  not  know  it  to  be  so,  his  testification 
is  false.  Tlie  application  of  this  rule  to  religious  opinions 
would  enable  us  to  distinguish  between  those  who  have  a 
faith  accordinof  to  knowledo-e,  and  those  who  have  a  faitli 
according  to  tradition.  The  admission  of  such  a  principle 
would  not  destroy  our  belief  in  the  Scriptures,  but  rather 
establish  it,  because  it  would  induce  an  honest  inquiry  after 
truth,  and  make  us  extremely  cautious  how  we  became  wit- 
nesses, one  way  or  the  other.  We  may  understand  and  be- 
lieve the  Scriptures  to  be  divinely  inspired  writings,  without 
being  able  to  unravel  all  their  mysteries.  We  may  compre- 
hend the  truth  of  Paul's  declaration,  that  all  scripture  was 
given  by  inspiration  of  God,  (that  was  so  given,)  although  we 
may  not  comprehend  his  meaning  when  he  wrote  things  hnrd' 


"WILLIAM    POOLE.  15i 

to  be  understood,  which  no  man  can  say  he  believes  until  he 
has  been  learned  the  interpretation  thereof,  by  the  same  Spirit 
that  searcheth  all  things.  If  Paul  did  not  comprehend  what 
he  believed  and  taught,  he  \vas  certainly  like  those  he 
reproved,  who  had  a  zeal  for  God,  but  not  according  to  know- 
ledge ;  and  all  those  who  pretend  they  believe  what  they  do 
not  understand,  certainl}^  confess  they  know  not  what  they 
say,  nor  whereof  they  affirm.  The  Essay  before  mentioned  is 
as  follows : — 

"  '  Comprehension  is  that  act  of  the  mind,  whereby  it  appre- 
liends  any  object  that  is  presented  to  it,  on  all  the  sides 
whereon  it  is  capable  of  being  apprehended  or  known.'  If  the 
above  definition  be  true,  we  wall  at  once  perceive  that  the  pro- 
position does  not  embrace  the  idea  that  we  must  reject  things 
we  positively  loiow  to  exist,  because  the  manner  or  reason  of 
their  existence  is  a  mystery.  It  is  not  necessary  for  us  to 
know  the  motives  of  a  writer,  or  to  believe  all  his  assertions, 
to  enable  us  to  understand  that  such  a  book  was  written,  or 
that  the  author  was  in  existence.  We  need  not  know  why  A 
gives  his  bond  to  B  in  order  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  the 
bond,  or  to  establish  its  reality.  No  man  pretends  to  compre- 
hend the  manner  in  which  God  exists,  and  yet  by  things 
which  are  made,  he  can  comprehencl  and  believe  that  such  a 
being  made  the  worlds,  and  all  that  in  them  is. 

"  We  can  comprehend  that  the  world  exists  without  being 
able  to  conceive  the  necessary  relation  that  exists  between  the 
act  by  which  God  decreed  that  the  world  should  exist  in 
time,  and  its  actual  existence.  It  is  not  necessary  for  us  to 
know  how,  or  in  what  manner,  the  Creator  made  the  sun, 
moon  and  stars,  and  appointed  their  several  stations,  to  enable 
us  to  comprehend  their  use  and  actual  existence.  We  are 
not  obliged  to  analyze  the  beams  of  the  sun,  which  warm  and 
enlighten  us,  or  to  decompose  the  air  we  breathe,  in  order  to 
comprehend  the  benign  influence  of  the  one,  or  the  absolute 
certainty  of  the  other. 

"  I  can  comprehend  this  drop  of  water,  this  grain  of  sand,  and 


152 


LETTER    TO 


tin's  slender  herb,  without  a  knowledge  of  their  intrinsic  pro- 
perties or  nature ;  and  although  I  cannot  comprehend  how 
matter  and  mind  are  united,  nor  explain  how  the  nourish- 
ment taken  into  the  stomach,  is  converted  into  blood  or  bones, 
yet  I  know  and  comprehend  the  fact :  '  I  think  therefore  I 
exist.'  To  know  certainly  what  we  believe,  we  must  cer- 
tainly understand  what  we  know.  We  read  of  some  in  old 
time,  who,  when  they  knew  God,  refused  to  worship  him  as 
God  ;  and  others,  who  knew  their  master's.will,  yet  did  it  not. 
I  would  ask  the  objector  to  the  position,  whether  these  persons 
comprehended  the  object  and  subjects,  the  Scriptures  declare 
they  knew.  If  we  refer  to  the  experience  of  the  apostles,  we 
find  they  could  not  believe,  until  they  were  made  to  under- 
stand what  was  required  of  them  :  that  which  they  knew,  and 
had  seen,  they  testified  of;  they  were  substantial  witnesses, 
because  they  were  enabled  to  comprehend  the  mystery.  And 
they  strove  '  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching'  to  enlighten  the 
understanding  of  their  hearers ;  and  all  those  who  thought 
the  evidence  strong  enough,  believed. 

"When  the  eunuch  read  Isaiah,  without  comprehending  his 
meaning,  he  was  an  unbeliever ;  but  when  his  understanding 
was  opened,  he  believed.  '  Ye  do  err,  not  knowing  the  Scrip- 
tures,' said  Jesus  to  his  unbelieving  neighbours.  Did  he 
intend  to  say  they  did  not  believe  in  the  book?  No.  They 
believed  the  Scriptures  to  be  the  words  of  God  ;  but  pretend- 
ing to  give  an  interpretation  to  them,  before  they  compre- 
hended their  meaning,  they  became  blind  :  but  V\'hen  the  me- 
dium of  comprehension  was  opened,  and  the  light  of  truth 
rendered  them  intelligible,  they  made  a  proper  application  of 
the  prophecies.  Hence  we  see  a  belief  without  knowledge, 
was  like  faith  without  works,  a  perfect  nonentity.  Know- 
ledge must  precede  belief,  conviction  must  precede  conversion, 
and  truth  must  be  understood  before  it  can  be  loved.  Igno- 
rance is  no  longer  hold  to  be  the  mother  of  devotion.  A  blind 
adherence  to  any  doctrines,  whether  true  or  false,  generates 
darkness ;  and  the  adoption  of  unintelligible  dogmas  gives  a 
doubtful  character  to  truth  itself. 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  153 

"  If  the  writers  against  the  proposition  mean  to  saj^,  that  faith 
enables  us  to  comprehend  all  things  which  reason  cannot  un- 
fold, I  am  ready  to  unite  with  the  sentiment,  because  it  esta- 
blishes the  truth  of  our  position,  by  admitting  the  absolute 
necessity  of  that  light  which  makes  all  things  manifest,  ana 
introduces  evidence  into  the  mind,  and  proves  to  a  demonstra- 
tion, that  we  can  believe  only  in  proportion  as  we  are  enabled 
to  comprehend.  And  as  it  is  the  special  province  of  the  spirit 
of  truth,  to  lead  into  all  truth,  it  follows  as  a  certain  conse- 
quence, that  we  shall  never  be  able  to  comprehend  all  truth, 
until  we  are  led  into  the  knowledge  of  it." 

Some  of  my  friends  at  Wilmington  have  recently  furnished 
me  with  the  first  number  of  a  new  periodical  work,  called 
"  The  Berean,"  in  which  I  perceived  an  attempt  to  prove  the 
same  plain  truth,  whicli  was  the  design  of  the  author  of  the 
foregoing  essay,  viz.  that  we  are  not  bound,  and  because  we 
cannot  believe  what  we  do  not  understand.  And  although  it 
would  seem  that  there  is  scarcely  any  axiom  in  Euclid  more 
self-evident  than  the  above  position,  yet  liow  astonishing  it  is 
to  consider,  that  there  are  many  among  the  professors  of  Chris- 
tianity, so  blind  and  so  bewildered  by  the  force  of  tradition 
and  superstition,  as  to  oppose  such  a  self-evident  proposition. 
As  to  the  hireling  clergy  opposing  it,  it  is  not  so  strange ;  as 
this,  like  many  other  truths  of  real  Christianity,  touches  them 
in  such  a  very  tender  place,  to  wit,  the  purse,  that  we  are  not 
to  wonder ;  as  its  tendency,  if  generally  acknov,'ledgcd,  would 
take  from  them  their  fat  benefices,  and  spoil  the  trade  of  priest- 
'  craft.  Therefore,  when  the  people's  eyes  are  likely  to  be 
opened,  as  were  the  Ephesians,'by  Paul,  they  cry  out,  (Deme- 
trius-like, when  they  have  called  together  the  workmen  of  the 
same  craft,)  saying,  "  Sirs,  ye  know  that  by  this  craft  we  have 
our  wealth  ;"  for  Paul  had  convinced  them.  "  that  they  be  no 
Gods,  which  are  made  with  hands  ;"  and  surely  the  Trinita- 
rians' Gods  are  less  so,  as  they  are  neither  visible  to  the  exter- 
nal nor  intr^rnal  senses,  of  course  they  are,  as  to  their  person- 
ality, a  nonentitv,  the  mere  creatures  of  the  imagination.    But, 

20 


154 


LETTER    TO 


inasmuch  as  there  are  many  led  away  with  tlie  dekision,  that 
we  must  beheve  some  things  that  we  neitlier  Iciiow  nor  under- 
stand, one  of  the  most  inconsistent  and  hurtful  of  which  is, 
the  absurd  doctrine  of  the  Trinity ;  therefore,  1  hope,  the  indi- 
vidual who  has  taken  his  pen  in  "  The  Berean,"  to  confute  it, 
will  not  lay  it  down  again,  until  he  has  razed  it  to  its  very 
foundation,  and  will  not  leave  a  single  vestige  of  it  to  inter- 
rupt the  minds  of  any  of  the  children  of  men  in  future. 

I  was  likewise  favoured,  by  some  of  my  friends  of  Wilming- 
ton, with  a  copy  of  Brownlee's  book,  entitled  "  A  careful  and 
free  Inquiry  into  the  true  Nature  and  Tendency  of  the  Reli- 
gious Principles  of  the  Society  of  Friends."  Had  he  said  he 
had  carefully  examined  and  searched  in  all  the  envious, 
slanderous  books,  of  the  old  persecuting  enemies  of  the  So- 
ciety of  Friends,  and  had  carefully  culled  tlie  falsehood  and 
gross  misrepresentations  they  contained,  or  that  the  most  inve- 
terate opposcrs  could  invent,  to  scandalize  the  Society,  and 
had  added  to  it  not  a  little  of  his  own,  his  book  would  then 
have  answered  better  to  its  title.  My  friend  aforesaid,  sug- 
gests a  thouglit,  that  should  I  think  proper  to  communicate 
any  matter  concerning  said  book,  it  would  be  acceptable  to 
his  friends  at  Wilmington. 

But  I  am  ready  almost  to  conclude,  whether  entirely  to 
neglect  it,  would  not  be  the  best  answer ;  for  really  it  does 
not  appear  to  be  worthy  of  a  serious  answer,  as  its  contents 
are  generally  made  up  of  irrelevant,  contradictory,  and  hete- 
rogeneous matter,  that  I  think  he  answers  and  confutes  himself, 
as  he  goes  along.  But  as  some  person  lias  made  some  correct 
remarks  on  said  book,  in  the  first  number  of  tlie  Berean,  I 
shall  not  cast  any  discouragement  in  his  way  ;  for  such  is  the 
influence  that  many  of  the  hirelings  have  over  the  credulous, 
that  let  them  say  A\hat  they  will,  some  are  ready  to  receive 
it  as  truth.     How  such  are  to  be  pitied  ! 

I  shall  now  draw  to  a  close,  and  in  near  affection  and  s)''m- 
pathy  rest,  as  ever,  thy  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


SAMUEL  COMFORT.  165 

TO  SAMUEL  COMFORT,  BUCKS  COUNTY,  PA. 

Jericho,  ith  mo.  ith,  1824. 
Dear  Friend, 

Thine  of  the  15th  ult.  \vas  duly  received,  and  read  with 
satisfaction,  tendina:  to  excite  renewed  feehngs  of  that  love 
and  true  Christian  fello\vship,  that  binds  together  in  the  indis- 
sohible  bond  all  the  living  children  of  our  Heavenly  Father's 
family. 

The  young  Friends,  who  were  the  bearers  of  it,  have  been 
agreeably  with  us  for  sev^eral  days  past ;  and  my  engagements 
have  been  such  since  they  came,  that  I  rather  despaired  of  writ- 
ing by  them,  agreeably  to  thy  request.  But  having  a  little  lei- 
sure this  afternoon,  after  my  friends  had  retired,  I  concluded 
I  would  attempt  to  indite  a  few  lines,  without  expecting  to 
satisfy  thy  request  in  regard  to  church  government,  for  want 
of  ability,  although  I  consider  it  a  very  simple  thing  to  the 
truly  enlightened  mind. 

The  root  and  ground  of  all  right  church  government,  is  laid 
down  by  the  great  Christian  lawgiver,  as  it  respects  moral  order. 
"  If  thy  brother  shall  trespass  against  thee,  go  and  tell  him  his 
fault  between  thee  and  him  alone ;  if  he  shall  hear  thee,  thou 
hast  gained  thy  brother. 

'•  But  if  he  will  not  hear  thee,  then  take  with  thee  one  or 
two  more,  that  in  the  mouth  of  two  or  three  witnesses  every 
word  may  be  established. 

"  And  if  he  shall  neglect  to  hear  them,  tell  it  unto  the 
church  :  but  if  he  neglect  to  hear  the  church,  let  him  be  unto 
tliee  as  an  heathen  man  and  a  publican."  Matthew  xviii.  15, 
16,  17. 

"  All  things  whatsoever  ye  would  that  men  should  do  to 
you,  do  ye  even  so  unto  them:  for  this  is  the  law  and  the 
prophets."     Matthew  vii.  12. 

These  doctrines,  I  conceive,  comprehend  the  substance  of 
all  church  order.  If  any  part  of  our  discipline  does  not  stand 
in  accordance  with  these  doctrines,  such  part  ought  to  be  con- 


156 


LETTER  TO 


sidered  spurious.  But  I  have  often  thought  that  much  more 
harm  arises  to  Society  from  a  wrong  execution  of  tlie  disci- 
pline, than  from  the  letter  itself  For,  as  many  undertake  to  be 
active  in  the  execution  of  the  discipline,  who  have  never  passed 
under  the  baptizing  operation  of  the  spirit  of  truth,  that  can 
only  prepare  for  the  work,  these  darken  counsel  by  words 
without  knowledge,  and  bring  death  over  a  meeting,  and  stop 
the  progress  of  right  order.  These  are  "  sensual,  having  not 
the  spirit,  having  men's  persons  in  admiration,  because  of 
advantage." 

To  free  the  Society  from  such  officious  innovators,  requires 
the  united  exertions  of  all  the  faithful,  and  which  can  only  be 
done  by  a  firm  and  faithful  administration  of  right  gospel 
order,  without  partiality. 

Did  each  monthly  meeting  attend  closely  to  the  order  com- 
prehended in  the  foregoing  doctrines,  Ave  should  soon  get  rid 
of  many  unworthy  members,  who  are  destroying  the  peace  of 
the  Society.  That  when  any  member  sliould  report  any  thing 
publicly  against  a  brother  or  sister,  without  first  going  pri- 
vately to  see  them,  let  the  matter  be  true  or  false,  they  ought 
to  be  dealt  with,  and  unless  they  make  satisfaction  to  the  party 
aggrieved  by  such  tale-bearing,  they  ought  to  be  disowned. 
For  as  the  wise  Solomon  saith,  "The  words  of  a  tale-bearer 
are  as  wounds,  and  he  that  repeateth  a  matter  separateth 
very  friends." 

■  There  is  another  evil  increasing  of  late  in  Society,  that  of 
publicly  opposing  a  Friend,  who  may  apprehend  it  is  his  or 
her  duty  to  speak  by  way  of  exhortation  in  a  meeting.  If  the 
person  so  opposed  be  a  member,  and  the  monthly  meeting,  to 
which  he  belongs,  have  not  declared  their  disunity  with  him, 
such  person,  so  opposing,  ought  to  be  dealt  with  without  fail. 

If  our  montlily  meetings  were,  in  general,  as  faithful  and 
firm  as  one  of  late  has  been  in  your  parts,  it  would  soon 
restore  peace  and  tranquillity  ;  for  nothing,  I  believe,  but  dis- 
orderly conduct  of  that  kind,  has  been  the  occasion  of  the 
present  uneasiness  and  disturbance  in  the  Society. 

Many  persons  from  mere  envy,  I  believe,  have  been  induced 


SAMUEL    COMFORT.  157 

to  spread  evil  reports,  in  direct  violation  of  the  discipline,  and 
some  of  them  have  led  others  to  join  them  in  the  same  disor- 
derly practice ;  and  these  kind  of  disorders  seem  increasing 
among  us  hy  some  from  whom  we  might  have  expected  better 
things,— among  the  rest,  that  of  not  rising  from  their  seats  in 
times  of  public  supplication.  The  preservation  of  peace  in 
Society,  depends  much  upon  monthly  meetings  and  indivi- 
duals keeping  close  to  the  order  of  our  discipline  ;  and  if  cir- 
curristances  have  altered,  so  as  to  make  it  necessary  for  some 
alteration  in  the  discipline,  let  that  be  done  as  way  opens 
for  it. 

But  as  the  law  outward  is  only  made  for  transgressors,  so  it 
will  never  be  sufficient  for  a  righteous  man  to  square  his  con- 
duct by ;  for  every  man  who  attends  to  the  inward  Divine  law, 
rises  above  the  control  of  all  outward  law ;  and  it  is  such  that 
are  only  qualified  to  make  and  execute  discipline,  consistent 
with  the  order  of  the  gospel. 

In  much  love  and  Christian  affection,  I  subscribe  thy  sin- 
cere friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

New  York,  5lh  mo.  2hth,  1824. 
My  Dear  Frtend, 

Thy  very  acceptable  letter,  finished  on  thy  way  home  from 
Philadelphia,  and  the  one  by  the  bearer  of  these,  was  duly 
received,  and  their  contents  were  very  grateful  and  encou- 
raging, tending  to  strengthen  the  bond  and  brighten  the  chain 
of  that  mutual  love  and  friendship,  that  has  existed  between 
lis  ever  since  our  first  acquaintance,  and  which,  I  trust,  will 
live  beyond  the  grave.  I  find  that  thou  still  feels  thyself  as 
dwelling  in  Mesheck,  or  in  the  low  valley ;  a  situation  that 
gives  us  a  better  estimate  of  our  dependant  and  real  character, 
than  when  we  are  permitted  to  ride  the  king's  horse,  and,  for 
a  short  time,  to  be  clothed  in  his  royal  apparel ;  as  the  former 


158 


LETTER    TO 


places  US  in  a  state  of  safetjr,  if  we  patiently  acquiesce  therein, 
as  when  we  are  at  the  bottom  we  can  fall  no  lower.  And  I 
never  feel  myself  safer  and  better  situated  than  when  I  am  at 
the  King's  gate,  waiting  and  watching  that  none  might  be 
permitted  to  destroy  the  King's  life,  not  even  his  chamberlains, 
or  principal  servants,  nor  intrude  upon  his  power,  but  that  he 
may  quietly  and  peacTeably  sit  upon  his  throne,  and  all  the 
earth  keep  silence  before  Him ;  then'  continued  peace  will 
reign,  and  the  earth  and  its  inhabitants,  as  they  quietly  submit 
and  resign  to  His  holy  will,  are  permitted  to  rejoice  before 
him,  in  every  diverse  allotment  or  dispensation,  of  his  loving^ 
kindness,  wisdom  and  power.  Therefore,  I  hope  my  dear 
friend,  tliou  wilt  not  dwell  too  much  upon  the  dark  side  of 
things,  but  endeavour  to  dwell  in  that  cheerful  state  of  mind 
recommended  by  our  great  pattern,  when  he  mentioned  that 
great  truth  to  his  disciples,  and  which  we  all  know  and  exp^ 
rience  as  such  ;  viz.  "  In  the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation  ; 
but  be  of  good  cheer ;  I  have  overcome  the  world," — and 
doubt  not  but  that  we,  by  the  same  power  that  enabled  him  to 
overcome,  may  also  overcome :  therefore,  my  dear  friend,  let 
us,  in  every  dispensation  of  his  love  and  power,  cheerfully 
resign  and  thank  God,  and  take  courage. 

We  have  proceeded  but  a  little  way  in  the  business  of  our 
yearly  meeting  as  yet,  nevertheless,  one  subject  has  brought 
us  to  a  pretty  close  trial  of  our  faith  and  patience.  A  propo- 
sition was  brought  forward,  previous  to  reading  the  epistles, 
to  omit  noticing  or  reading  the  London  printed  epistle,  and 
although  it  appeared  very  clear,  that  much  the  greater  part  of 
the  meeting  were  ready,  and  even  desirous  of  adopting  the 
measure,  yet  a  few  were  so  opposed  thereto,  that  it  was  thought 
best,  for  the  present,  to  condescend  to  them  and  suffer  it  to  be 
read  ;  which,  I  hope,  will  be  the  last  time  such  epistles  will  be 
read  in  our  yearly  meeting. 

We  have  heard  much  said  in  Society  of  late,  concerning 
new  doctrines,  but  in  the  course  of  this  yearly  meeting  Ave 
have  already  had  more  novel  and  strange  doctrines  held  forth 
among  us,  tlian  T  have  ever  heard  before  ;  such  as  these,  that 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  159 

our  victory  over  sin  is  not  to  be  known  on  this  side  the  grave : 
that  the  humanity  of  Jesus  Christ  prays  to  his  own  divinity ;  that 
not  to  beheve,  that  the  crucifixion  of  the  body  of  Jesus  without 
the  gates  of  old  Jerusalem,  was  a  sufficient  atonement  for  the 
sins  of  the  whole  world,  unchristians  us,  and  renders  us  crimi- 
nal, &c.  Our  yearly  meeting  for  discipline  was  conducted  in 
a  good  degree  of  harmony  and  condescension,  but  our  select 
meeting  was  the  most  trying  I  ever  experienced.  A.  B.  took 
such  a  high  stand  in  our  public  meetings,  as  to  leave  scarcely 
any  time  for  others  to  exercise  their  gifts,  greatly  to  the 
wounding  of  many  exercised  minds,  that  I  fear,  instead  of 
promoting  the  noble  cause  we  are  called  to  promote,  weakness 
and  suffering  have  been  increased,  greatly  to  the  grief  of  the 
honest-hearted. 

28th.  Our  yearly  meeting  of  discipline  closed  this  after- 
noon, but  the  select  meeting  stands  adjourned  until  to-morrow 
morning. 

In  much  love  to  thee  and  thine,  in  which  my  wife  joins,  1 

subscribe  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Baltimore,  IQth  mo.  26th,  1824. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Thy  letter  of  the  22d  instant  was  duly  received,  and  its 
contents  were  very  acceptable,  excepting  the  part  announcing 
thy  late  affliction,  and  present  weak  state  of  body ;  which 
information  has  excited  afresh  near  sympathy  with  thee,  yet 
not  without  a  hope,  that  in  the  end  all  these  bodily  afflictions, 
which  for  the  present  are  not  joyous,  but  rather  grievous  ;  as 
the  mind  is  raised  to  look  beyond  the  present  to  the  future, 
and  thereby  becomes  strengthened  to  acquiesce  in  all  the 
varied  dispensations  allotted  us  by  a  wise  and  gracious  provi- 
dence, while  passing  through  this  vale  of  probation,  so  neces- 
sary in  order  for  our  advancement  in  the  pathway  to  virtue 


160 


LETTER    TO 


and  ^lory ;  will  work  together  for  good  in  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  noble  end  and  glorious  designs  of  the  heavenly 
Father,  in  the  creation  and  restoration  of  his  children.  As 
to  the  time,  if  health  is  continued,  of  our  seeing  our  friends  at 
Wilmington  and  its  vicinity,  as  I  feel  myself  as  a  poor  depen- 
dant day  labourer,  I  cannot  at  present  ascertain  wlien  it  will 
be  ;  but  from  my  present  prospect,  believe  I  shall  call  upon  you 
in  my  way  home,  and  it  maybe  within  the  compass  of  ten  or 
twelve  days  from  the  present  time. 

Friends  here  seem  progressing  in  their  yearly  meeting  con- 
cerns, as  far  as  they  have  advanced,  cheerfully,  and  with 
apparent  unanimity. 

The  meeting  of  ministers  and  elders  got  through  the  busi- 
ness of  that  meeting  in  one  day,  and  closed  for  this  year  at 
five  o'clock  last  seventh  day  evening,  in  apparent  harmony 
and  concord. 

The  yearly  meeting  has  several  subjects  of  considerable 
moment  now  before  it,  which  have  been  committed  to  the 
consideration  of  committees. 

29th.  One  of  the  subjects  mentioned  was  a  proposition  to 
omit  reading  the  London  printed  epistle,  on  which  the  com- 
mittee thereon  unanimously  reported  as  their  sense,  that  the 
reading  of  it  be  discontinued;  which  report  the  meeting  con- 
firmed, and  it  was  laid  by  without  further  notice. 

A  proposal  came  up  from  Baltimore  quarter,  for  altering 
the  discipline  in  such  manner,  that  when  any  member  goes 
out  in  marriage  it  may  be  considered  a  voluntary  relinquish- 
ment of  his  or  her  right  in  Society,  and  to  be  disowned 
without  any  further  notice  ;  but  this  proposition  was  not 
agreed  to-  yXikI  as  we  shall  likely,  in  a  few  days,  be  favoured 
to  speak  together  face  to  face,  I  will  now  come  to  a  close,  with 
just  observing,  that  I  feel  very  thankful  that  it  has  been  my 
lot  to  attend  this  yearly  meeting;  as  I  do  not  remember  that  I 
ever  sat  a  yearly  meeting  with  greater  satisfaction  .  Friends 
liaving  passed  through  their  business  in  much  harmony  and 
bTotherlj^  condescension,    the  meeting  closed  last  evening. 

Meetinofs  aic  Inid  out  for  us  in  our  way  to  your  place  as 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  161 

follows ;  to-morrow  ev^ening  at  six  o'clock,  at  Bush,  first  day 
at  Deer  Creek,  second  da}^  at  Little  Britain,  third  day  at  East- 
land, fourth  day  at  West  Nottingham,  fifth  day  at  East  Not- 
tingham ;  after  which,  we  shall  direct  our  course  towards 
Wilmington,  without  any  present  prospect  of  stopping  much 
on  the  way.  In  much  love  to  thee  and  thine,  in  which  my 
wife  unites,  I  subscribe  thy  afiectionate  friend. 

ELTAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

•       Philadelphia,  \2mo.  Alh,  1824. 
Mr  Dear  Fkiend, 

Thine  of  the  28th  ult.  excited  afresh  in  my  mind  deep  sym- 
pathy and  fellow  feeling  with  thee,  in  thy  present  stale  of 
complicated  bodily  affliction  ;  and  althougl),  as  thou  observes, 
it  is  undoubtedly  all  under  right  direction,  and  which  is  alto- 
gether in  accordance  with  my  views,  nevertheless,  no  afiiiction 
for  the  present  seems  joyous  ;  yet  they  tend  to  create  a  hope  in 
the  minds  of  those  who  continue  in  the  way  of  well  doing  and 
are  rightly  exercised  thereby,  in  full  acquiescence  with  every 
dispensation  of  a  gracious  providence,  that  they  will  all  work 
together  for  our  good,  and  produce,  to  those  who  hold  out  to 
the  end,  a  more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory.  And 
having  this  hope  as  an  anchor  to  the  soul,  amidst  every  con- 
flicting and  trying  scene,  let  us,  my  dear  friend,  thank  God, 
and  take  courage,  in  a  full  belief  that  he  will  never  leave  nor 
forsake  the  upright  in  heart. 

I  have  so  far  recovered  my  usual  state  of  health,  that  I 
ventured  out  and  attended  three  meetings  this  week,  on  third, 
fourth,  and  fifth  days,  viz.  the  North,  Twelfth  Street,  and 
Green  Street,  lo  the  peace  of  my  own  mind,  and,  I  believe,  to 
the  general  satisfaction,  comfort  and  encouragement  of  my 
friends ;  but  some  cavilled,  viz.  an  hireling  priest  and  two  or 
three  of  those  who  style  themselves  orthodox  ;  and  there  is  no 
d(>ubt  in  my  mind,  that  should  the  purest  departed  saints  be 
»  21 


1G2 


LETTER    TO 


permitted  to  return  and  preach  among  these,  the  pure  unsullied 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  they  would  make  a  much  greater 
uproar  among  the  people.  Such,  I  conceive,  is  tlie  deplorable 
state  of  the  professed  churches  in  Christendom. 

We  expect  to  leave  town  this  afternoon  and  ride  to  German- 
town,  to  be  at  meeting  there  to-morrow ;  on  second  day  at 
Abington,  and  on  fourth  day  at  Byberry.  So  far  meetings 
are  laid  out  for  us.  On  fifth  day  will  be  the  monthly  meeting 
of  Newtown,  on  sixth  day  at  Middletown,  on  seventh  day  at 
Falls ;  should  we  find  it  in  our  way  to  attend  those  meetings, 
and  be  able  to  go  forward,  we  shall  likely  attend  the  meeting 
at  Trenton  to-morrow  week  ;  after  which,  if  health  is  perrnitted, 
we  shall  bend  our  course  homewards. 

In  that  love  that  many  waters  cannot  quench,  I  subscribe, 
thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    SAMUEL    R.    FISHER,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Jericlw,  \2th  mo.  26th,  1824. 
Dear  Friend, 

Although  it  has  rested  on  my  mind  most  of  the  time  since  I 
returned  home,  to  address  a  few  lines  to  thee  in  this  way,  not 
only  to  aclcnowledge.  with  grateful  sensations,  the  many  espe- 
cial favours  and  abundant  kindness  received  from  thee  and  thy 
dear  children,  by  myself,  my  v/ife  and  daughter,  granddaugh- 
ter,  and  other  companions  in  travel,  while  I  was  confined  by- 
bodily  indisposition  under  thy  hospitable  roof,  but  also  to  inform 
thee  a  little  of  our  fare  while  progressing  on  the  \vay  to  our 
own  habitation, — yet  such  has  been  the  weak  state  of  my  body, 
and  trembling  of  my  hands,  that  I  have  not  attempted  to  put 
pen  to  paper  to  write  a  letter,  until  the  present  time  ;  and  I  very 
much  doubted  when  I  commenced,  whether  I  .should  suc- 
ceed.    But  I  do  much  better  than  I  anticipated. 

After  taking  an  afiectionate  farewell  of  our  friends  in  the 
city,   we   proceeded,   agreeably   to  our  previous  conclusion, 


SAMUEL    R.  FISHER.  163 

taking  meetings  at  Germantown,  Abington,  and  Byberry. 
These  three  meetings  were  to  me  favoured  and  encouraging 
opportunities,  though  pretty  trying  to  my  weak  body.  And 
after  the  close  of  the  meeting  at  Byberry,  the  concern  to 
attend  the  three  monthly  meetings  of  Newtown,  Middletown, 
and  Falls,  the  three  successive  •  days,  was  renewed  and  so 
fixed  on  my  mind,  that  I  found  my  peace  consisted  in  sub- 
mitting thereto,  which  I  cheerfully  did  when  I  clearly  saw  it 
was  my  Heavenly  Father's  good  pleasure,  and  I  found  abun- 
dant peace  in  so  doing.  The  meetings  were  very  large  ;  and, 
I  trust,  through  the  gracious  condescending  goodness  of  our 
never-failing  Helper,  many  were  instructed,  comforted,  and 
edified. 

On  first  day  we  attended  the  morning  and  afternoon  meet- 
ings at  Trenton,  and  as  thy  children  Thomas  and  Sarah,  and 
divers  other  Friends  from  Philadelphia,  were  there,  thou  no 
doubt  hast  heard  all  that  is  needful  in  relation  to  them.  On 
second  day  we  proceeded  to  St.onybrook.  On  the  way  my 
wife  was  taken  ill,  insomuch  as  not  to  be  able  to  sit  up  any 
after  our  arrival  at  the  widow  Clark's.  After  meeting,  we 
returned  back  to  the  widow's  and  lodged.  The  next  day,  my 
wife  being  better,  we  proceeded  on  our  journey,  through  mud 
and  mire,  the  roads  being  very  heavy,  and  arrived,  near  eve- 
ning, at  our  friend  Samuel  Pound's,  about  six  miles  short  of 
Plainfield,  who,  with  his  worthy  wife,  received  us  with  tokens 
of  sincere  friendship. 

The  next  day  we  attended  a  monthly  meeting  at  Plainfield, 
held  for  Rahway  and  Plainfield,  and  the  day  after  had  an 
appointed  meeting  at  Rahway.  Both  these  meetings  were 
satisfactory  and  encouraging  seasons ;  and  we  left  them  the 
next  day  in  the  fresh  feelings  of  mutual  love  and  affection, 
and  rode  to  New  York,  where  we  arrived,  a  little  before  sun- 
set, on  sixth  day  evening.  We  tarried  here  until  first  day, 
and  attended  the  two  meetings  in  the  city,  both  of  which  were 
crowded  and  overrunning  full,  like  some  of  the  large  meet- 
ings in  Philadelphia. 

On  second  day  we  returned  home,  and,  to  our  mutual  com- 


164  LETTER    TO 

fort  and  satisfaction,  found  onr  children  and  friends  in  usual 
health,  except  Phebe,  our  grand-daughter,  who  had  some 
return  of  her  fever,  and  was  not  so  well  as  when  she  first  got 
liome,  but  is  now  in  a  favourable  way  of  recovery. 

The  second  day  after  getting  home,  I  was  favoured  to,  get 
clear  of  the  gravel,  that  had  occasioned  me  such  a  long  season 
of  pain.  I  feel  now  pretty  free  from  pain,  and  my  strength  is 
daily  increasing. 

In  much  love  to  thyself  and  dear  children,  I  subscribe  thy 
affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO   WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  \st  mo.  BHi,  1825. 
Mt  Beloved  Friend, 

Not  having  heard  any  thing  from  thee  since  I  wrote  thee 
from  Philadelphia,  I  feel  very  anxious  to  hear  how  thou  art 
getting  along  under  the  pressure  of  thy  bodily  afflictions,  as 
by  thy  last  letter,  thou  inforrnedst  me  that  they  had  become 
complex.  Hence,  in  the  near  sympathy  that  impresses  njy 
mind  on  thy  behalf,  I  feel  very  desirous  of  hearing  from  thee, 
as  soon  as  is  reasonably  convenient. 

After  leaving  Philadelphia,  we  proceeded,  taking  meetings 
at  Germantown,  Abington,  Byberry,  and  the  three  monthly 
nieetings  at  Newtown,  Middletown,  and  Falls.  These  were 
all  large,  and,  I  think,  favoured  meetings,  through  the  conde- 
scending goodness  and  unmerited  mercy  of  the  Shepherd  of 
Israel.  The  day  after  the  monthly  meeting  at  the  Falls,  being 
the  first  of  the  week,  we  attended  fore  and  afternoon  meetings 
at  Trenton,  in  Jersey.  In  the  morning,  several  hundreds 
assembled  more  than  the  liouse  could  contain  ;  and  in  the 
aflernoon  also,  many  went  away  for  want  of  room.  They 
were,  I  trust,  both  solemn  and  profitable  meetings.  The  Go- 
vernor and  many  of  the  members  of  the  Legislature  being  in 
town,  they  made  us  an  offer  of  the  state  house  for  our  accom 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  165 

modalion ;  but  as  the  two  meetings  of  our  Friends  came  in 
course  on  that  day,  I  felt  most  easy  to  attend  them  as  they 
came,  and  my  bodily  infirmity  was  such,  that  I  did  not  think 
it  prudent  to  attempt  a  third  meeting  in  the  evening ;  there- 
fore way  did  not  open  to  accept  the  offer.  On  second  day  we 
proceeded  on  our  way  homeward,  taking  meetings  at  Stony- 
brook,  Plainfield,  Rahway,  and  New  York,  and  got  safe  home 
on  the  following  second  day,  and  found  our  children  and 
friends  generally  well ;  which,  together  with  the  attendant 
peace  of  mind,  was  cause  of  thankfulness  and  gratitude  to  the' 
blessed  j\uthor  of  all  our  manifold  blessings  and  favours  dis- 
pensed from  his  bountiful  hand.  I  have  not  fully  recovered 
my  usual  state  of  health,  but  am  able  to  keep  about  and  attend 
meetings. 

I  subscribe  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELTAS  HICKS. 


TO    THOMAS    M'CLINTOCK,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Jericho,  \st  mo.  2Ath,  1825. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Thy  very  acceptable  letter  of  the  10th  instant  was  duly 
received,  and  I  have  taken  my  pen  in  order,  as  way  may  open, 
to  answer  the  queries  it  contained. 

Q,uery  1.  '•  What  dost  thou  mean  by  the  terms,  '  outward 
legfal  sins'  ?"  I  mean  the  breach  of  those  outward  legal  rites 
and  ceremonies,  such  as  circumcision,  &c.,  contained  in  the 
law  of  Moses,  the  non-observance  whereof  was  accounted  a 
transgression  of  that  law,  and  rendered  the  animal  bodies  of 
the  Israelites  legally  unclean  and  unholy  ;  but  which  was  not 
any  breach  of  that  universal  moral  law  given  by  God  to  man- 
kind from  the  beginning,  and  which  is  manifested  to  every 
man  by  the  two  witnesses  which  God  has  placed  in  every 
rational  creature,  as  the  only  sufficient  rule  and  guide,  to  wit, 
reason  and  truth.  And  as  man  is  a  two-fold  creature,  so  his 
gracious  Creator  has  given  him  a  two-fold  revelation,  viz.  tlie 


166  LETTER    TO 

light  of  the  outward  sun  to  reveal  to  him,  tlirougli  the  medium 
of  his  external  senses,  the  things  of  a  man,  and  the  internal 
sun,  Avhicli  is  the  truth,  or  light  and  spirit  of  God,  to  reveal  to 
him,  through  the  medium  of  his  internal  senses,  the  things  of 
God :  and  through  the  medium  of  these  two  witnesses,  when 
rightly  adhered  to,  every  rational  being  is  clearly  and  self- 
evidently  instructed  in  his  duty  both  to  God  and  man. 

But  sorrowful  to  relate,  the  professors  of  Christianity  have, 
generally,  slain  these  two  Avitnesses,  and  they  are  now  lying 
dead  in  the  streets  of  Sodom  and  Egypt,  as  the  apostle  John 
saw  was  the  case  in  his  day ;  that  is,  in  the  defiled  Ijearts  of 
the  formal  professors  in  Christendom.  By  renouncing  and 
turning  from  the  leading  and  guidance  of  these  two  witnesses, 
and  adopting  in  lieu  thereof  the  letter  of  the  Scriptures,  and  a 
belief  in  mysteries  they  do  not  understand,  both  of  wliich  in 
themselves  are  dead  things,  and  cannot  communicate  any  life 
to.  the  soul  of  man,  they  have  brought  over  themselves  a  state 
of  death  and  darkness,  and  thereby  slain  these  two  witnesses, 
or  "  pressed  them  down  as  a  cart  with  slieaves,"  by  which 
they  have  rendered  them  entirely  useless  to  them  in  the  things 
of  God  and  true  religion.  But  to  return.  As  the  observance 
of  these  rituals  did  not  cleanse  nor  redeem  the  soul  from  moral 
evil,  so,  by  a  parity  of  reason,  the  non-observance  of  them  did 
not  pollute  the  soul,  but  only  prevented  the  Israelites  from  freely 
and  fully  partaking  of  the  outward  blessings  of  their  good 
land,  which  was  their  only  promised  reward  for  their  obedi- 
ence and  faithful  adherence  to  tliese  outAvard  rituals,  and 
moral  prdcepts  contained  in  tljeir  outward  law. 

Secondly.  It  was  not  the  sufferings  and  death  of  Jesus  on 
the  cross  merely,  that  abolished  the  law,  and  did  away  those 
legal  transgressions :  that  was  only  the  finishing  Avork.  The 
abrogation  of  the  law,  and  the  cancelling  the  breaches  of  its 
legal  precepts,  were  principally  efiected  by  Christ's  declara- 
tions in  his  sermon  on  the  mount,  and  his  oflfering  himself  up 
to  the  will  of  his  Heavenly  Father,  when,  in  his  fervent  prayer 
in  the  garden,  a  little  before  his  crucifixion,  he  earnestly 
besought  him,  if  it  was  possible,  he  would  let  that  cup  pass 


TfioMAs  m'clintock.  167 

from  him ;  but  in  his  usual  submission,  as  a  dutiful  son  to  the 
will  of  his  Father,  he  exclaims,  "Not  my  will,  but  thine  be  done." 
He  never  offered  himself  up  to  his  cruel  persecutors,  but  they 
came  upon  him  in  a  malicious  manner,  and  took  him  by  force, 
in  his-  quiet  retreat  in  a  public  garden. 

Having,  by  his  sermon  on  the  mount,  publicly  abolished 
the  "  law  of  carnal  commandments  contained  in  ordinances," 
and  introduced  a  "  better  testament,'"  in  direct  opposition  to  it, 
and  tliereby  cancelled  the  obligations  of  it,  his  disciples  were 
no  longer  bound  to  observe  its  requirings  ;  which  is  manifested 
by  his  justifying  them  for  a  breach  of  their  seventh-day  sab- 
bath, assuring  them  that  he  was  "Lord  of  the  sabbath  day." 
And  as  Moses  was  authorized,  by  divine  command,  to  give 
them  that  law  and  covenant,  with  all  its  legal  rites  and  cere- 
monies, so  likewise  he,  as  paramount  to  Moses,  was  authorized 
by  his  Heavenly  Father  to  do  it  away,  and  abolish  the 
whole  ;  agreeably  to  the  declaration  of  the  apostle  Paul,  Colos. 
ii.  14.  And  he  finished  his  mission  when  on  the  cross  he  said, 
"  It  is  finished  !  and  bowing  his  head  he  gave  up  the  ghost :"  at 
which  time  the  vail  of  the  temple  was  rent  in  twain,  from  the 
top  to  the  bottom,  in  confirmation  of  the  consummation  and 
total  end  of  that  dispensation. 

This  vail  was  fixed  by  Moses  to  prevent  the  Israelites  from 
coming  into  the  immediate  presence  of  the  Lord,  in  the  inner 
court,  where  none  but  the  priests  were  permitted  to  enter 
during  that  dispensation.  This  vail  represented  Moses  and 
that  outward  law.  But  this  vail  was  done  away  by  Jesus  on 
the  cross,  he  having  previously,  as  aforesaid,  abolished  the 
law,  with  all  its  rituals  and  ceremonies,  and  introduced  the 
new  covenant.  And  the  vail  being  now  done  away,  the 
people,  all  that  believed  on  him,  were  now  permitted  to  appear 
before  the  Lord  without  a  mediator,  as  a  mediator  makes  a 
vail  between  God  and  the  soul.  Hence  the  apostle  exhorts 
the  believers  to  come  boldly  to  the  throne  of  gi'ace,  that  they 
may  obtain  mercy,  and  find  grace  to  help  in  tlie  needful  time. 
See  Heh.  iv.  16. 

Apprehending  that  what  I  have  said  may  furnish  the  means 


JOS  LETTER    TO 

to  thee  by  which  thy  first  four  queries  may  be  resolved,  I  now 
tarn  to  the  fifth,  and  may  observe,  that  the  abrogation  of  the 
law  and  the  introduction  of  the  gospel,  or  new  covenant  dis- 
pensation, to  that  people,  as  declared  by  the  propliet,  was  the 
principal  end  of  the  mission  of  Jesus,  and  which  was  verified 
by  his  so  exactly  fulfilling  the  declaration  of  his  Heavenly 
Father  to  Moses,  so  long  before  his  coming.  Hear  Jehovah 
declare  his  intentions.  "  I  will  raise  them  up  a  prophet  from 
amongst  their  brethren,  like  unto  thee.  I  will  put  my  words 
into  his  mouth,  and  he  shall  speak  unto  them  whatsoever  I 
shall  connnand  him."  This  was  just  the  case  with  Moses,  for 
he  spake  nothing  to  the  people  but  what  the  I^ord  commanded 
him.  Hence  their  likeness  to  each  other.  By  comparing 
this  with  his  sermon  on  the  mount,  we  shall  clearly  discover 
a  full  abrogation  of  the  law,  as  also  a  clear  introduction  of 
the  gospel  or  new  covenant,  as  promised  to  that  people,  so 
long  before,  by  tlie  prophet  Jeremiah. 

And  in  reply  to  the  latter  part,  where  thou  queries — Were 
any  of  the  Jews  who  came  into  the  spirituality  of  religion, 
previous  to  his  coming,  at  liberty  to  decline  the  observance  of 
the  external  rituals  ?  I  answer,  by  no  means.  For  as  the 
Israelites  had  refused  to  come  into  the  presence  of  the  Lord, 
or  to  hear  his  commands  immediately  from  him,  and  chose 
rather  that  he  would  speak  to  them  through  the  medium  of  a 
man,  so  he  gave  them  Moses  and  the  larophets  as  mediators, 
who  received  the  word  at  his  mouth,  tUid  conveyed  it  to  the 
people.  And  although  these  had  immediate  access  to  the 
Divine  presence,  yet  they  were  not  permitted  to  omit  any 
obligation  of  that  law  while  that  covenant  stood  unrepealed, 
as  their  principal  business  was  to  teach  it  to  the  people  during 
its  continuance.  Hence  a  failure  in  them  would  have  been 
as  great,  if  not  a  greater  crime,  than  in  the  common  people. 

Now,  these  mediators  formed  a  vail  between  them  and  their 
God,  for  the  Israelites  could  not  look  beyond  them  for  the  know- 
ledge of  him,  and  of  what  he  shottld  require  at  their  hands, 
while  this  vail  continued.  For  they  chose  to  be  instructed 
by  external  evidence,  and  thereby  disavowed  all  inward  and 


THOMAS    m'cLINTOCK.  169 

spiritual  evidence.  Hence  arose  the  occasion  and  necessity 
for  external  miracles.  For  had  all  the  Israelites  been  pre- 
pared, and  as  willing  as  Moses  was,  to  receive  God's  word  and 
will  immediately  from  his  own  mouth,  there  never  would 
have  been  any  reason  or  use  for  outward  miracles  ;  as  it  does 
not  appear  that  he  has  dispensed  any  to  other  nations,  and  as 
is  manifest  by  the  prophet  Jeremiah's  testimony  concerning 
the  new  covenant  dispensation  to  that  people,  (which  was  only 
new  to  the  house  of  Israel,  but  was  the  same  old  covenant  to 
the  rest  of  the  nations,  that  he  made  with  man  in  the  begin- 
ning,) when  the  Lord  would  speak  immediately  to  every  indi- 
vidual of  them,  by  his  own  spirit  and  word  in  tljeir  hearts. 
So  that  none  now,  who  come  into  this  new  or  inward  covenant, 
need  go  to  a  Moses  or  a  prophet,  or  any  other  fellow  creature, 
to  know  the  Lord,  or  his  will  concerning  them ;  for  all,  through 
the  inward  law  and  light  of  this  covenant,  are  made  to  know 
him,  from  the  least  to  the  greatest. 

This  vail  that  was  fixed  by  God  between  him  and  his 
people,  at  their  own  request,  was  figured  out  by  the  vail  which 
Moses,  by  God's  command,  set  up  in  the  tabernacle  to  keep 
the  people  from  approaching  the  inner  court,  where  none  were 
to  enter  but  the  Lord's  priesls,  whom  he  had  consecrated  by 
his  own  spirit ;  and,  while  this  tabernacle  and  vail  continued, 
the  people  received  the  commands  of  the  Lord  from  the  priests' 
lips.  But  this  vail  was  done  away  in  and  by  Jesus,  as  saith 
the  apostle,  when  he  concluded  his  mission  on  the  cross,  as 
before  cited.  And  all  the  Israelites  that  believed  on  him,  and 
submitted  to  his  doctrines  and  commands,  by  which  he  abro- 
gated tlie  law  and  introduced  the  gospel,  and  confirmed  the 
latter  by  his  holy  example,  way  was  made  for  them  to  come 
freely  to  the  throne  of  grace,  in  the  inner  temple  of  their  hearts, 
where  the  Lord  makes  himself  known  to  his  children,  and 
they  receive  his  word  immediately  from  his  own  mouth,  every 
vail  and  mediator  being  rem.oved  from  between  them. 

Jesus  had  nothing  outward  to  offer  but  his  bodily  life,  as 
saith  the  Psalmist,  speaking  in  his  name,  "  A  body  hast  thou 
prepared  me,"  and  that  he  was  under  the  necessity  of  surrcn- 

22 


170  LETTER  TO 

dering  up,  as  there  was  no  other  way  to  save  it  but  b}^  con- 
forming to  the  will  of  the  Scribes  and  Pharisees,  which  he 
could  not  do  without  losing  his  spiritual  life ;  agreeably  to 
his  own  doctrine,  "  He  that  saveth  his  life  shall  lose  it:  but  he 
that  loseth  his  life,  for  my  sake  and  the  gospel,  the  same  shall 
save  it."  Thus  he  set  an  example  to  all  his  followers,  that, 
in  order  to  be  saved,  they  must  surrender  themselves,  as  he 
had  done,  a  willing  offering  to  God.  And  we  must  suffer  the 
fire  of  his  divine  word  in  us,  to  burn  as  an  oven,  (which  is 
what  John  the  Baptist  called  the  baptism  of  tlie  Holy  Ghost 
and  fire,)  until  all  the  chaff,  and  every  thing  in  us  and  of  us 
that  the  controversy  of  God  is  against,  is  burned  up  and  con- 
sumed, and  the  soul  made  pure  and  clean,  a  fit  receptacle  for 
his  holiness  to  dwell  in ;  and  even  our  natural  lives  must 
likewise  be  surrendered  to  his  holy  will.  Tliis  comi)rehends 
the  true  atonement,  which  all  the  external  atonements  under 
the  law  were  but  a  type  and  figure  of 

As  to  the  advantage  the  reviewers  have  taken,  or  pretend 
to  take,  on  what  they  construe  as  a  concession  on  my  part,  in 
my  letter  to  Dr.  Shoemaker,  that  the  death  of  Christ,  merely 
of  itself,  was  an  atonement  at  all,  I  had  no  such  idea;  for  I 
believe  I  rested  it  principally  on  the  effects  of  his  mission  and 
death.  As  is  very  clear,  not  only  from  the  apostle's  testimony, 
where  he  asserts  that  Jesus  had  abolished  the  law  and  "  blotted 
out  the  hand- writing  of  ordinances,  nailing  them  to  his  cross," 
&c.,  but  also  by  the  facts  which  followed,  some  of  which  were 
manifest  while  he  w^as  with  his  disciples,  in  justifying  them 
for  a  breach  of  their  shadowy  sabbath,  and  divers  other  things 
in  their  conduct  which  made  a  breach  upon  the  letter  of  their 
law.  By  which  the  design  of  his  mission  is  proved,  and  that 
it  was  purposely  to  put  an  end  to  that  law  and  covenant,  and 
to  introduce  a  better  :  not  another  outward  one,  but  an  inward 
one,  agreeably  to  the  prophecy  of  Jeremiah.  And  this  he 
clearly  and  amply  did  in  his  sermon  on  the  mount,  as  is  before 
shown,  but  was  finished  by  his  last  act  of  surrender  on  the 
cross,  when  he  bowed  his  head  and  said,  "  It  is  finished."  At 
which  time  "  the  vail  of  the  temple  was  rent  in  twain  from  the 
top  to  the  bottom." 


THOMAS    M  CLINTOCK.  171 

Here  the  Divine  power  interfered,  and  set  its  seal  to  the 
complete  abrogation  of.  tlie  law ;  and  at  that  very  time,  all 
the  legal  transgressions  that  any  of  the  Israelites  lay  under 
the  censure  of,  by  a  breach  of  their  ceremonial  law,  were 
done  away  and  abrogated  with  the  law  of  carnal  command- 
ments that  instituted  them.  So  that  every  Israelite,  that  be- 
lieved in  Jesus  as  their  Messiah,  was  now  at  liberty  to  abstain 
from  all  the  rituals  of  the  law  and  be  blameless.  That,  strictly 
speaking,  it  was  not  the  persecutions  he  suffered,  nor  the 
cruel  death  by  which  he  finished  his  mission,  that  atoned  for 
any  sins  ;  but  it  was  his  godly  life,  his  commands  and  doctrines, 
that  abolished  the  law  and  introduced  the  gospel,  and  put  an 
end  to  these  legal  sins  and  transgressions,  and  in  the  room 
thereof  brought  in  everlasting  righteousness. 

As  to  what  may  be  the  fate  and  condition  of  the  unbelieving 
Jews,  I  am  not  at  present  prepared  to  give  a  full  answer,  not 
having  considered  it  a  subject  requisite  for  me  to  enter  into 
any  particular  investigation  of  But  apprehend,  if  they  are 
rightly  engaged  to  live  a  virtuous  and  upright  life,  according 
to  knowledge  received,  and  the  doctrine  of  their  prophets, — 
"  to  do  justly,  to  love  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  their 
God," — ^.they  will  be  accepted,  when  thousands  of  professed 
Christians  may  fall  sliort  thereof. 

In  much  love  to  thee  and  thine,  in  which  my  wife  and 
children  are  united,  I  subscribe  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO   MOSES    BROWN,    PROVIDENCE,    R.I. 

Jericho,  "id  mo.  3Gth,  1825. 
Beloved  Friend, 

It  is  with  some  reluctance  that  I  take  my  pen  to  reply  to  thy 
letter  of  the  11th  month  last ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  the  long 
unbroken  friendship, — at  least  so  on  my  part. — that  has  sub- 
sisted between  us  from  our  first  acquaintance,  I  should  not 
now  have  done  it.     For  if  I  hate  any  thing,  it  is  contention  ; 


172 


LETTER    TO 


as  I  am  fully  in  unison  with  the  advice  of  the  wise  Solomon, 
when  he  recommended  to  "  leave  off  contention  hefore  it  be 
meddled  with."  I  mostly  answer  false  aocnsations  with  si- 
lence, after  the  example  of  our  great  Pattern,  when  he  was 
falsely  accused  before  the  Roman  governor.  And  had  I  not 
apprehended  that  T.  H.'s  letter  savoured  more  of  accusation, 
founded  upon  flying  and  false  reports,  than  it  did  of  that  phi- 
lanthropic Christian  charity,  that  would  rather  cover  than 
expose  the  supposed  or  real  faults  of  a  fellow  creature,  T 
might  have  answered  it  as  readily  as  I  did  S.  F.  H.'s.  But  I 
consider  S.  F.  H.'s  letter  very  different  from  that  of  T.  H. ;  for 
the  latter  roundly  asserted  that  D.  Slack  was  a  deist,  and  almost . 
an  atheist,  without  accompanying  his  assertions  with  the  least 
shadow  of  proof  And  I  have  always  considered  it  a  full  and 
clear  evidence  of  the  weakness  and  futility  of  a  cause,  when 
it  requires  defamation  and  detraction  to  support  it.  And  as 
thou  alludest  principally  to  Slack's  first  essay,  as  savouring  of 
deism  and  infidelity,  I  am  willing  to  acknowledge  that  I  have 
not  been  able  to  discover  the  least  symptom  of  that  kind  in  that 
essay,  any  more  than  in  the  general  writings  of  our  primitive 
Friends.  They  were  accused  of  the  same,  by  the  ignorant 
and  superstitious  of  their  day,  because  they  did  not  acknow- 
ledge the  Scriptures  to  be  the  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 
And  they  have,  that  is,  the  hirelings  and  their  abettors  of  the 
present  day,  the  same  view  at  this  time  concerning  the  mem- 
bers of  our  Society,  who  are  faithful  in  the  support  of  our 
ancient  foundation,  the  light  and  spirit  of  truth  Mnthin.  But 
alas  !  the  number  of  these  I  fear  is  too  few.  But  as  expe- 
rience lias  taught  our  persecutors  to  see  that  the  time  is  past 
for  them  to  use  force,  persecution,  and  detraction,  to  bring  us 
to  submit  to  their  cruel  wills  ;  they  are  now  using  the  cunning 
of  the  serpent,  by  flattery  and  deceit :  and  in  this  way  they 
are  much  more  successful  in  drawing  many  away  from  the 
simplicity  of  truth,  so  as  to  join  with  them  in  their  many  and 
various  ways  and  associations,  set  up  in  the  will  and  foolish 
wisdom  of  man,  under  the  show  of  doing  God  service,  by 
which  they  are  robbing  widows  and  orphans,  and  for  a  pre- 


MOSES    BROWN. 


173 


tence  are  making  long  prayers.  But  to  return  to  the  subject 
of  Slack's  book,  would  it  not  have  been  more  honourable  and 
neighbourly,  to  say  nothing  of  the  Christian,  as  he  considered 
the  youth  very  erroneous  in  his  views,  to  have  taken  the  pen 
and  showed  him  his  errors, — as  surely  it  must  have  been  an 
easy  task,  if  he  was  so  mucli  out  of  the  way,  as  he  asserts  him 
to  be — rather  than  to  bear  him  down  with  hard  names  and 
tmfriendly  epithets  ?  As  he  could  then  have  given  the  pub- 
lic an  opportunity  to  judge  for  themselves,  without  trusting  to 
his  bare  assertions,  which  carry  no  evidence  at  all  with  them. 

I  trust  I  have  now  given  sufficient  reasons  for  not  answer- 
ing the  letter  alluded  to,  and  I  hope  they  will  prove  satisfac- 
tory ;  but  if  not,  I  am  done  with  the  subject. 

Thou  seems  to  accuse  me  of  prevarication,  but  upon  what 
erround,  I  am  unable  to  conceive  ;  unless  it  is  on  what  thou 
afterwards  mentions  in  respect  to  a  message  I  sent,  as  thou 
sayest,  to  the  author  of  that  pamphlet,  by  a  respectable  Friend 
of  our  city.  I  have  no  remembrance  of  sending  any  message 
to  that  author,  by  any  Friend  of  our  city  ;  but  I  remember 
meeting  a  Friend  of  Providence  in  New  York,  and  we  had 
some  conversation  respecting  that  individual ;  and,  I  think,  I 
manifested  to  that  Friend  my  regret  for  the  publication  of 
Slack's  two  last  numbers  ;  as  I  apprehended  he  was  too  young 
in  experience  to  enter  so  largely  into  the  discussion  of  matters 
of  such  importance,  and  that  if  I  had  the  opportiaiity  of  speak- 
ing with  him,  I  should  recommend  stillness  to  him,  as  the 
safest  in  his  present  child-like  state  ;  not  doubting  but  a  divine 
visitation  had  been  extended  to  him,  that  enabled  him  not  only 
to  see  the  bigoted  and  corrupt  state  of  the  hireling  clergy  and 
their  abettors,  but  likewise  to  bear  a  full  and  decided  testi- 
mony to  our  foundation  principle,  the  light  within  :  and  he 
supported  it  by  as  full  and  conclusive  arguments,  as  I  had  met 
with  in  any  Friend's  writings.  But  I  knew  he  must  lack,  what 
is  entirely  necessary  in  our  Christian  progress,  a  train  of  solid 
experience,  which  would  require  time  to  effect. 

As  to  the  encouraging  message  thou  speakest  of,  I  have  no 
remembrance   of  it ;  and  it  may  be   among  the  many  false 


174  LETTER    TO 

reports,  tliat  were  circulated  by  some  envious  individuals, 
such  as  that  •'  I  had  a  continual  intercourse  with  David  Slack, 
while  he  was  writing  those  essays,  and  that  I  had  a  hand  in 
forming  them;"  and  a  great  deal  more  of  such  lying  stuff: 
when  the  truth  is,  I  had  never  heard  of  the  existence  of  such 
a  person,  until  some  acquaintance  of  mine  in  New  York  sent 
me  the  first  essay.  This  was  the  first  time  I  had  ever  heard 
of  such  a  man  ;  and  I  came  to  the  knowledge  of  the  other 
essay  in  the  same  way. 

As  to  what  tljou  observest  in  regard  to  my  desiring  S.  F.  H. 
to  show  my  letter  to  T.  H.,  it  is  a  mistake  ;  but  as  I  considered, 
from  what  I  had  heard,  that  D.  Slack  was  considered  as  con- 
federate with  them  that  dissented  from  Friends,  I  apprehended 
my  letter  to  S.  F.  H.  would  be  a  sufficient  answer  in  both 
respects  ;  and  as  S.  F.  H.  would  receive  my  letter  at  the  time 
of  the  yearly  meeting,  I  wished  him  to  show  it  to  such  Friends 
as  he  thought  necessary.  I  had  no  allusion  in  particular  to 
T.  H.,  as  I  had  previously  concluded  not  to  answer  his  letter, 
and  for  the  reason  I  have  now  given,  and  which  is  only  effected 
by  thy  importunity ;  as  I  should  much  rather  they  should  have 
remained  in  the  inclosure  of  my  own  thoughts,  as  it  is  very 
unpleasant  to  impeach  a  fellow  creature  of  faults,  unless  it 
appears  absolutely  necessary.  And  as  it  regards  what  thou 
sayest  respecting  the  interview  between  A.  Braithwaite  and 
myself,  tliou  appearest,  on  account  as  thou  sayest,  of  my  pre- 
varication, incorrectness,  (fcc,  to  be  induced  rather  to  believe 
the  two  females,  than  my  statement.  Well,  let  it  be  so.  I 
know  I  have  spoken  the  truth  ;  and  there  I  am  willing  to  leave 
it,  let  others  think  as  they  may.  As  to  what  thou  sayest  of 
my  letter  to  Dr.  Shoemaker,  I  may  observe  that  it  contained 
my  simple  sentiments  at  that  time,  and  I  penned  it  in  the  sin- 
cerity of  my  heart,  and  innocency  of  my  hands  ;  and  I  do  not 
in  the  least  regret  that  I  have  written  it.  But  I  stand  always 
open  to  conviction ;  and  if  any  person,  even  a  child,  should 
convince  me  of  any  error  it  contains,  I  shall  cheerfully  yield 
it  up,  and  acknowledge  myself  wiser  than  when  1  wrote  it. 

As  to  what  thou  sayest  of  my  contradicting  myself,  by  say- 


MOSES    BROWX.  175 

ing  at  one  time,  that  the  Scriptures  were  the  best  book,  and 
at  another  time,  that  it  does  more  hurt  than  good  ;  if  this  is  to 
thee  a  paradox,  it  is  one,  I  conceive,  tliy  own  common  sense 
and  every  day's  observation  would  easily  solve.  For  it  is  my 
candid  belief,  that  those  that  hold  and  believe  the  Scriptures  to 
be  the  only  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  to  those  it  does  much 
more  hurt  than  good.  And  has  any  tiling  tended  more  to 
divide  Christendom  into  sects  and  parties,  than  the  Scriptures? 
and  by  which  so  many  cruel  and  bloody  wars  have  been  pro- 
mulgated [promoted.]  And  yet,  at  the  same  time,  may  it  not 
be  one  of  the  best  books,  if  rightly  used  under  the  guidance 
of  the  Holy  Spirit  ?  But,  if  abused,  like  every  other  blessing 
it  becomes  a  curse.  Therefore,  to  these  it  always  does  more 
hurt  than  good  ;  and  thou  knowest  that  these  comprehend 
far  the  greatest  part  of  Christendom.  As  to  what  thou  say- 
est,  of  "  Once  in  grace,  always  in  grace,"  needs  no  reply. 

There  is  one  subject  more  to  be  noticed,  and  which  creates 
a  degree  of  admiration  in  my  mind,  that  is,  thy  supposition  of 
my  being  out  of  the  unity  of  my  friends ;  when  nothing  is 
more  notoriously  evident  than  my  full  unity,  and  which  is 
so  obvions,  by  its  being  tested  almost  from  year  to  year  for 
forty  years  or  more,  and  never  more  so  than  in  the  past 
season,  in  which  I  have  twice  been  called  upon  to  surrender 
all,  and  go  forth  in  ray  great  and  good  Master's  service.  The 
first  was  a  journey  to  the  northward,  in  our  own  yearly 
meeting  ;  the  latter,  to  attend  Baltimore  yearly  meeting,  and 
some  other  services  in  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  and  the  Jer- 
seys ;  both  which  services  I  accomplished  in  the  summer  and 
fall  of  last  year,  with  the  full  unity  of  my  friends  expressed 
on  minute,  and  was  furnished  with  returning  minutes  express- 
ive of  the  full  unity  of  my  friends  where  I  visited.  And  what 
should  induce  thee  to  mention  a  wish  for  my  returning  into 
the  unity  of  ray  friends,  when  I  have  not  been  out  of.  it  ?  un- 
less it  be  in  [the  case  ofj  some  few  individuals,  who  have  been 
led  away  from  the  truth,  and  on  their  parts  have  broken  the 
unity  towards  me,  without  any  cause  given  by  me:  therefore  I 
have  nothing  to  do  in  the  concern,  but  to  wait  patiently  for 


176  LETTER    TO 

them  to  return  to  me.     Which  I  trust  they  will  all  have  to  do, 
before  they  can  witness  true  peace  of  mind. 

In  love  I  conclude,  and  subscribe  myself,  as  ever,  thy  sin- 
cere and  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO  SAMUEL  COMFORT,  BUCKS  COUNTY,  PA. 

Jericho,  4th  mo.  2&th,  1825. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Thine  of  2d  month  last  came  duly  to  hand,  and  its  con- 
tents were  very  salutary,  tending  to  revive  afresh  tliat  near 
sympathy  and  fellow-feeling  affection,  witnessed  when  favoured 
with  each  other's  company.  What  thou  remarkest  relative  to 
the  sufferings  of  the  faithful  in  the  present  day,  is  very  cor- 
rect ;  we  look  for  no  other  in  the  present  bewildered  state  of 
the  people,  both  within  and  without  the  pale  of  Society.  For 
even  some  of  our  members,  who  think  much  of  themselves, 
and  who,  in  time  past,  have  been  thought  something  of  by 
their  friends,  have  so  far  turned  away  from  first  principles,  as 
to  unite  witli  hireling  priests  in  defaming  and  gainsaying  their 
fellow  members  ;  even  some,  whom  iu  time  past,  they  at  least 
pretended  great  respect  and  regard  for ;  but  not  abiding  in  the 
principle,  they  lost  their  first  love,  and  grew  indifferent  and 
careless,  and  became  dead  and  formal,  and  could  not  endure 
sound  doctrine.  Hence  a  cavilling  spirit  got  up,  which  led 
them  to  find  fault  with  their  brethren,  to  cover  their  own 
nakedness,  and  jealousy  crept  in  and  greatly  destroyed  love 
and  unity,  and  a  contentious  spirit  entering  filled  the  vacuum. 
And  it  will  never  be  good  day  to  the  Society  again,  until  indi- 
viduals, each  one  for  one,  rally  back  to  the  standard,  and  recur 
to  and  unite  in  the  first  principle,  and  leave  every  thing  behind 
that  genders  to  contention,  or  that  has  a  tendency  to  lead  to 
dilTerent  views  and  opinions. 

Things  with  us,  on  the  Island,  remain  in  a  good  degree  of 
.|uiel  J  but  I  do  not  know  that  those  in  the  opposition  have  in 


SAMUEL    COMFORT.  177 

any  degree  mended  ;  but  their  number  is  so  small  they  can  do 
nut  little.  But  in  New  York  it  is  a  pretty  trying  and  dis- 
turbed time.  I  know  not  when  it  will  end,  or  be  better  with 
us.  I  apprehend  our  case  is  such,  that  the  fire  and  hammer 
will  be  needful  some  time  longer,  to  do  away  the  dross  and 
tin,  and  reprobate  silver.  We  shall  all  have  need  to  let  pa- 
tience have  its  perfect  work,  that  so  in  the  end  of  the  conflict, 
we  may  be  entirely  refined,  wanting  nothing. 

My  wife  has  been  quite  ill  for  two  weeks  past,  but  is  now  on 
the  mend,  and  we  are  in  hopes  the  disorder  has  pretty  much 
subsided.  The  rest  of  our  family  and  children  around  us  are 
in  usual  health,  as  are  our  friends  generally  here  away. 

With  much  love  to  thee  and  thy  dear  wife  and  children,  I 
subscribe  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO  WILLIAM  POOLE,  WILMINGTON. 

New  York,  5th  mo.  Ath,  1823. 
Dear  Friend, 

I  take  my  pen  to  write,  in  answer  to  thine  of  the  I9th  ult. 
more  particularly  as  it  respects  the  historical  accoinit  of  the 
miraculous  conception  and  birth  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  the  son 
of  the  Virgin  Mary,  as  stated  in  the  account  of  his  life  by 
Matthew  and  Luke,  in  their  evangelical  histories.  I  shall,  in 
the  first  place,  state  to  thee  my  answer  to  the  first  and  only  per- 
son that  ever  put  the  question  to  me,  on  this  wise,  Dost  thou 
believe  in  the  miraculous  conception  of  Jesus  in  the  womb  of 
his  mother  Mary  ?  and,  although  I  consider  it  an  impertinent 
question,  yet,  as  it  was  put  by  a  particular  friend  and  neigh- 
bour of  mine,  Thomas  Willis,  I  condescended  to  answer  it, 
which  was  in  these  words ; — That  I  had  believed  it  from 
my  youth  up  to  the  present  time,  as  far  as  history  and  tradition 
could  give  belief,  and,  I  apprehended,  no  person  had  any 
other,  or  could  have  any  higher  belief,  as  we  did  not  find  that 
any  nation  or  people,  however  highly  favoured,  had  other 
knowledge  or  belief  thereof,  but  those  who  had  the  history : 

23 


178  LETTER    TO 

therefore  a  belief  therein  was  not  an  essential  to  salvation. 
For  that  which  is  essential  to  the  salvation  of  the  souls  of  the 
children  of  men,  is  certainly  dispensed  by  our  common  Creator, 
to  every  rational  creature  under  heaven  ;  for  he  is  unchancre- 
ably  perfect,  equal  in  all  his  ways  and  righteous  in  all  his 
works,  and  will  do  equal  justice  to  all,  so  that  all  who  dis- 
obey his  manifested  will,  are  left  without  excuse.  For  shoiild 
he  manifest  any  certain  thing  essential  to  salvation,  to  a  small 
portion  of  mankind,  and  keep  it  secret  from  the  greater  part, 
would  it  not  be  partial,  seeing  he  is  all-wise  and  all-power- 
ful, and  could  as  easily  manifest  it  to  all  as  to  one?  and 
not  only  the  Scriptures,  but  the  very  reason  and  nature  of 
things  prove  it.  We  read  that  the  spirit  of  the  Lord  strove 
in,  or  with,  the  people  before  the  flood,  no  doubt  with  every 
individual  of  them,  as  it  did  with  Adam,  as  it  did  with  Eve, 
as  it  did  with  Cain ;  his  call  is  extended  to  all  as  saith  the 
prophet,  "  Look  unto  me  and  he  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of 
the  earth ;"  the  weakest,  the  poorest,  the  farthest  off,  the  least 
obedient,  &c.  "  He  hath  showed  thee,  O  man,"  every  man, 
"  what  is  good  ;  and  what  doth  the  Lord  require  of  thee."  Not 
to  believe  in  the  hear-tell  of  outward  miracles,  outward  sacri- 
fices, outward  oblations,  outward  baptisms,  outward  sacra- 
ments of  bread  and  wine,  all  wliicli  only  nourish  the  body  and 
are  cast  out  with  the  draught,  but,  "to  do  justly,  and  to  love 
mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  thy  God  V  loving  God  above 
all  and  our  neighbour  as  ourselves,  doing  always  unto  others 
as  we  would  they  should  do  unto  us,  always  attentive  to  that 
gospel  that  the  Scripture  tells  us  is  preached  in  every  creature, 
— not  out  of  them,  but  in  them,— by  the  light  and  Spirit  of 
God,  and  is  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation.  A  belief  in, 
and  obedience  to  tliis  inward  gospel  and  power  of  God,  is  all 
that  is  essential  to  our  salvation  ;  for  this,  and  this  only,  can 
brinar  us  to  love  God  above  all,  and  our  neitrhliours  as  our- 
selves,  and  to  love  our  enemies,  and  to  pray  to  God  for  them, 
and  to  beat  our  swords  into  ploughshares,  and  spears  into 
pruning  liooks,  and  no  more  learn  war,  but  be  at  peace  with 
God.  and  with  all  men. 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  179 

I  may  further  observe,  in  answer  to  thy  question,  that  1  am 
in  sentiment  with  thee,  as  to  the  subject  of  the  miraculous 
conception ;  as  it  is  reasonable  to  suppose,  tliat  when  the 
Great  Prophet  of  the  Jews  should  come,  or  be  manifested  to 
Israel,  as  spoken  of  by  the  former  prophets,  as  that  dispensation 
until  all  its  pai^ts  had  been  confirmed  by  outward  miracles, 
and  as  that  people  would  not  believe  any  thing  of  moment 
without  such  interference  of  divine  power,  hence  their  Mes- 
siah must  be  ushered  in  through  that  medium,  or  they  would 
not  have  believed  on  him.  And  it  was  essential  to  that  people 
to  believe  on  him  when  he  came,  or  he  could  be  of  no  use  to 
them.  Therefore,  I  observed  to  T.  Willis,  that  although  there 
appeared  to  me  as  much,  or  more,  letter  testimony  in  the 
account  of  the  four  Evangelists,  against  as  for  the  support  of 
that  miracle,  yet  it  had  not  altered  my  belief  therein,  as  stated 
in  my  letter  to  him,  which  no  doubt  thou  hast  read.  But  my 
enemies  will  not  believe  my  positive  assertion,  expressed  in 
my  own  words,  but  will  have  it  according  to  their  own  minds. 
Well,  so  let  it  be  ;  if  they  can  live  upon  their  own  false  con- 
struction of  my  words,  let  them  have  it  so,  till  they  can  feel 
the  weight  of  their  own  error,  and  then  they  will,  I  hope,  learn 
better,  whilst  I  enjoy  peace  through  it  all.  With  love  as  usual, 
thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    ABRAHAM    LOWER,   PHILADELPHIA. 

Jericho,  6th  mo.  1st,  1825. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  trust  thou  wilt  not  impute  my  nofes  answering  thy  very 
acceptable  letter  of  4th  month  last,  to  forgetfulness  or  inat- 
tention, but  to  the  real  cause,  viz.  the  many  and  varied  avo- 
cations that  continually  press  upon  my  mind,  together  with 
the  want  of  qualification  to  indite  any  thing  worthy  thy  atten- 
tion ;  and  I  feel  but  little  more  at  present,  than  to  inform  that 
we  are  enjoying  a  usual  portion  of  health,  and  feel  grateful  for 
the  favour,  and  to  give  thee  a  little  account  of  our  late  yearly 


180  LETTER    TO 

meeting.  We  got  pretty  quietly  through  the  first  sitting  of  the 
select  meeting,  excepting  that  two  females,  one  from  the  east 
and  another  from  the  west,  advanced  some  heavy  charges 
against  us  for  indulging  and  supporting  a  spurious  ministry 
among  us ;  which,  at  the  time,  was  passed  by  in  silence,  hut  was 
promptly  met  in  a  succeeding  meeting.  Bnt  my  mind  was  so 
released  from  that  meeting,  at  the  close  of  the  first  sitting,  as  it 
appeared  to  me,  that  notliing  further  could  be  done  to  profit  in 
our  meeting  again,  except  closing  the  minutes,  and  signing  a 
returning  certificate  for  Isaac  Stephenson.  And  as  that  meet- 
ing coming  together  again,  added  a  third  sitting  in  a  day,  it 
was  more  than  I  felt  able  to  bear,  therefore,  I  did  not  attend 
tlie  two  last  sittings  ;  and  all  that  was  done,  or  attempted  to 
be  done  in  them,  except  what  is  above  noticed,  evidently 
tended  to  do  much  more  harm  than  good. 

The  first  sitting  of  the  yearly  meeting  of  discipline,  which 
held  about  three  hours,  was  principally  taken  up  in  settling  the 
point  respecting  the  reading  of  the  London  printed  epistle  ; 
which  resulted  in  not  reading  it.  The  subject  brouglit  up 
from  Westbury  quarter,  proposing  that  all  appointments  be 
made  for  a  limited  time,  &c.  and  that  above  mentioned,  intro- 
duced considerable  altercation:  the  latter  finally  issued  in 
being  referred  back  to  the  quarterly  meeting  from  whence  it 
came,  to  be  further  explained,  although  it  was  thouglit  by 
most,  that  it  was  already  sufficiently  explicit  to  all  that  were 
willing  to  see  it  so.  But  it  is  a  true  saying,  "  None  are  so 
blind  as  those  who  will  not  see."  But  I  believe,  on  the  whole, 
it  was  a  profitable  meeting,  in  which  light  was  spread  on 
various  subjects;  and  our  parting  sitting  was  solemn  and  edi- 
fying. 1  discover,  by  letters  recently  received,  that  the  old 
accuser  of  the  brethren  is  still  vaunting  about,  giant-like,  and 
is  disturbing  Israel's  camp,  which  makes  it  necessary  for  all 
our  little  Davids  to  throw  off  Saul's  armour,  and  betake  them- 
selves to  their  sling  and  smooth  stones,  and  patiently  wait  the 
directions  and  leave  the  event  to  the  Lord  of  battles,  who  will, 
in  his  own  time,  bring  forth  judgment  unto  victory,  as  the  little 
isles  patiently  wait  for  hi.s  law. 


ABRAHAM    LOWER.  181 

Time  necessarily  leads  me  to  a  close.  My  wife  and  daugh- 
ter E.  join  me  in  much  love  to  you  all,  and  to  all  our  friends 
of  the  city,  as  way  opens  in  thy  freedom  to  communicate  it ; 
for  I  love  all,  who  in  sincerity  and  truth  love  God  the  Father, 
and  Jesus  Christ  his  son.  In  which  I  subscribe  thy  affection- 
ate friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,   WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  6ih  vw.  30//i,  1825. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Thy  acceptable  letter  of  the  16th  instant  was  duly  received, 
and  its  contents  were  comfortable  and  encouraging  in  its  va- 
rious views ;  and  as  this  acknowledgment,  in  unison  with  thy 
sentiments,  is  all  I  feel  furnished  with  at  present  to  communi- 
cate, to  fill  up  my  paper,  I  will  add  for  thy  amusement,  when 
thou  can  find  nothing  better,  the  perusal  of  a  transcript  from 
a  letter  of  a  correspondent :  take  it  as  follows  : — 

"  It  was  grateful  and  encouraging  to  find,  that  my  ancient 
beloved  friend  was  still  in  the  keeping  of  Him  who  sleepeth 
not  by  day,  nor  slumbereth  by  night,  and  who  by  his  hand  of 
power  is  making  strong,  even  in  old  age,  'the  arms  of  the 
hands,'  of  all  his  faithful  and  riglitly  devoted  servants,  ena- 
bling them  to  go  forth  valiantly  for  the  promotion  of  his  dig- 
nified and  noble  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the  earth, 
to  the  pulling  down  of  the  strong  holds  of  Anti-christ's  king- 
dom, or  the  man  of  sin  and  son  of  perdition,  or  in  more  simple 
and  plain  terms,  self  and  self-will  in  man  ;  who' hath  taken  the 
seat  of  God  in  the  heart,  and  exalteth  himself  above  all  that 
is  called  God,  or  that  is  worshipped.*  And  hence  arise  all 
the  false  worships  that  now  are,  or  ever  have  been,  in  the 
world,  with  all  the  spurious,  hireling,  and  man-made  ministry, 
created  and  formed  in  schools,  colleges,  and  semuiaries  of 

*  Thess.  ii.  3,  4. 


182  LETTER    TO 

human  and  heatnenish  science,  out  of  which  have  sfrown  all 
those  new  and  seh-conceived  histitutions  and  associations, 
such  as  Bible  societies,  missionary  societies,  and  societies  for 
the  propogation  of  the  gospel  in  foreign  parts,  (fcc,  while  at 
tlie  same  time  very  few  of  their  rumiber  understand  what  the 
gospel  is,  judging  them  by  their  fruits,  with  the  mind  clothed 
with  the  best  of  charity.  For  their  whole  superstructure,  from 
the  foundation  to  the  cap  stone,  is  of  a  pecuniary  kind,  viz. 
money.  Take  away  that,  and  they  are  all  at  a  stand ;  for 
what  sturdy  and  successful  beggars  are  all  these  societies  and 
their  agents,  whom  they  are  sending  forth,  in  all  parts  of  the 
country  and  among  various  nations,  to  hoard  together  these 
pecuniary  means,  their  only  source  of  strength. 

Are  not  these,  like  those  the  apostle  speaks  of,  who  have  a 
form  of  Godliness,  hut  deny  the  power  thereof?  From  such,  he 
says,  turn  away.*  For  of  this  sort  are  they  which  creep  into 
houses  and  lead  captive  silly  women,  under  a  pretence  of  reli- 
gion, when  their  chief  design  is  to  get  their  money.  If  this  is 
not  the  case,  from  whence  arise  those  associations,  such  as 
cent  societies,  mite  societies,  &c.,  that  are  formed,  and  which 
are  draining  money  from  poor  widows  and  orphan  children, 
under  the  show  of  religion,  by  which  they  prove  to  demonsti-a- 
tion,  that  gain  with  them  is  Godliness  ?"t 

Can  we,  consistently  with  reason  and  truth,  suppose  that 
those  mighty  combinations  of  men  of  all  descriptions,  from  the 
highest  to  the  lowest,  professors  and  profane,  which  go  to  make 
up  those  institutions  alluded  to,  many  of  whom  do  not  appear 
to  have  any  more  correct  ideas  of  real  Christianity,  nor  do 
their  Avorks  carry  any  more  semblance  of  it,  than  tlie  works 
of  the  untutored  Gentile  in  the  uncultivated  wilds  of  America — 
I  say  can  any  rational  man,  whose  mind  is  free  from  the  bias 
of  a  corrupt  and  superstitions  tradition,  suppose  that  the  infi- 
nite and  all-wise  .Tehovah,  hath  any  part  or  lot  in  those  insti- , 
tutions,  carried  on  in  the  very  spirit,  power,  and  contrivance 
of  fallen  man,  and  which  abundantly  less  resemble  the  work 
*  2  Tim.  iii.  5,  6.  t  1  Tim.  vi.  5. 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  1^3 

of  God  than  they  do  the  work  of  Aiiti-christ,  as  set  forth  by 
John  in  his  revelation  :  When  Satan  was  loosed  from  his 
prison,  and  went  forth  to  deceive  the  nations  which  are  in  the 
four  quarters  of  the  earth,  Gog  and  Magog,  which  compre- 
hend all  the  worldly-minded  hypocritical  professors  of  religion 
and  unstable  inhabitants  of  the  eartli,  to  gather  them  together 
to  battle,  the  number  of  whom  are  as  the  sand  of  the  sea.* 
What  a  clear  description  is  this  of  the  unstable  multitude  that 
make  up  these  associations,  and  their  abettors. 

Therefore,  the  Lord's  call  is  extended  to  all  his  enlightened 
and  truly  devoted  children,  "  Come  out  from  among  them  and 
be  ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord,  and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing; 
and  I  will  receive  you,  and  be  a  father  unto  you,  and  ye  shall 
be  my  sons  and  daughters,  saith  the  Lord  Almighty." 

Are  not  the  fore-named  institutions  and  associations,  the 
principal  strongholds  of  sin  and  Satan  in  the  present  day  ?  for 
it  is  in  and  through  these,  by  fair  pretences  to  do  much  good, 
the  deceiving  spirit  transforms  himself  into  an  angel  of  light, 
and  would,  if  it  were  possible,  deceive  the  very  elect.  And 
who  are  tliose  elect,  that  will  be  instructed  and  enabled  to 
escape  all  his  snares,  and  the  cunning  and  creaturely  devices 
of  his  agents,  whom  he  hath  captivated  by  means  of  his  sub- 
tie  transformations,  joining  with  them  and  encouraging  them, 
to  go  forward  in  their  own  wills  and  according  to  their  own 
contrivance,  furnished,  like  the  Babel  builders  of  old,  with,  the 
best  materials  that  man  hath  at  his  own  command,  viz.  the 
Scriptures  ;  comparable,  when  men  make  use  of  them  to  effect 
their  own  purposes,  by  direction  of  their  own  wisdom  and 
science,  to  the  brick  and  slime  mortar,  that  the  sons  of  Noah 
made  use  of  in  days  of  yore,  to  build  their  tower,  whose  top 
they,  in  their  presumption,  intended  should  reach  to  heaven, 
that  they  might  get  to  themselves  a  name.  But  their  language 
was  confounded,  and  their  worl\  ceased.  And  this,  no  doubt, 
will  be  the  case  with  our  modern  Babel  builders ;  for  the  hete- 
rogeneous multitude,  that  form  the  present  group  of  builders, 
are  very  similar  to  those  in  former  days,  and  their  aim  appears 

♦  Rev.  XX.  7,  8. 


1S4  LETTER    TO 

to  be  the  same,  to  wit,  by  their  own  power  and  wisdom,  and 
in  their  own  way  and  time,  to  build  a  tower,  or  a  something 
whose  top  shall  reach  to  heaven,  by  which  to  get  to  themselves 
a  name. 

I  will  now  answer  the  query,  Who  are  those  elect,  whose 
eyes  are  so  enlightened  by  Divine  truth,  and  made  so  piercing 
as  to  penetrate  through  all  the  subtle  transformations  of  the 
enemy  of  their  souls,  and  strengthened  to  escape  all  his 
snares  ?  They  are  those,  and  those  only,  who,  in  the  day  of 
God's  merciful  visitation,  have  surrendered  themseh^es  to  his 
government ;  for  he  has  in  his  unbounded  goodness,  visited  by 
his  grace  or  good  spirit,  the  souls  of  all  his  rational  creation  ; 
in  which  time  he  has  given  them  the  offer  of  salvation,  by 
setting  life  and  death  before  them,  and  enduing  them  with  a 
capacity  to  choose.  But  none  are  the  elect,  but  those  who 
choose  the  good  and  refuse  the  evil ;  who  in  the  day  of  his 
grace,  while  it  continues  to  strive  with  them,  choose  and  eiect 
the  Lord  for  their  portion,  and  the  God  of  Jacob  for  the  lot  of 
their  inheritance ;  and  who  persevere  in  the  way  of  well- 
doing, until  they  experience  a  full  birth  of  the  spirit,  and  are 
born  of  God,  and  are  established  in  the  truth,  and  do  not  sin  ; 
because  they  are  born  of  God,  and  his  seed  remaineth  in  them. 
These  are  they,  in  whom  the  wicked  transforming  spirit  hath 
no  place,  and  are  passed  beyond  the  possibility  of  being  de- 
ceived, being  founded  and  established  on  that  unshaken  rock, 
the  revelation  of  the  spirit  of  God  in  their  own  souls,  the  only 
true  teacher,  and  sure  rule  of  faith  and  practice,  against  which 
the  gates  of  hell  can  never  prevail. 

What  thou  mentions  in  regard  to  my  being  from  home  in 
consequence  of  an  appointment  by  our  yearly  meeting,  to 
attend,  with  some  others,  the  opening  of  a  new  quarterly 
meeting  at  Scipio,  is  incorrect ;  as  the  time  of  opening  that 
juarter  does  not  come  on  until  the  beginning  of  10th  month 
next,  previous  to  which  time  I  have  to  perform  a  considerable 
tour  of  duty,  having  obtained  the  unity  and  concurrence  of 
our  monthly  meeting  to  pay  a  religious  visit  to  the  inhabitants 
of  our  island,  more  particularly  the  eastern  part.     I  am  now 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  185 

engaged  near  home,  and  shall  not  go  far  to  the  east  until  after 
our  quarterly  meeting,  which  comes  the  latter  end  of  next 
month.     It  would  be  pleasant  to  see  thee  here  at  that  time. 

I  was  out  five  days  last  week,  and  attended  eight  meetings  ; 
and  I  was  made  thankful  in  believing,  from  very  apparent  evi- 
dences, in  those  opportunities,  that  the  Lord  had  not  left  him- 
self without  a  witness  in  any  of  his  rational  creation ;  and 
when  his  word  goeth  forth,  this  witness  is  raised  and  the  power 
is  manifested.  This  is  the  Lord's  doing,  and  is  marvellous  in 
mine  eyes.  For  although  these  opportunities  were  mostly 
among  such,  as  the  high  professing  Scribes  and  Pharisees 
would  deem  publicans  and  sinners,  such  as  dare  not  lift 
up  their  eyes  to  heaven,  but  when  convicted,  and  in  a  degree 
quickened  by  his  grace,  could  do  no  more  than  smite  upon 
their  breasts  and  cry  out,  "  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner." 
This  was  evidently  the  case  in  most  of  these  opportunities,  as 
much  brokenness  and  contrition  was  manifested.  Truly  the 
harvest  may  be  said  to  be  great,  but  the  rightly  qualified 
labourers  are  very  few  :  too  many  of  those  who  seem  to  be 
willing  to  take  a  part,  are  mere  traditionalists,  who,  like  the 
man.  prefer  carrying  a  stone  in  one  end  of  their  wallet,  to, 
balance  their  meat  and  drink,  and  give  as  a  reason  for  so 
doing,  that  their  fathers  and  grandfathers  did  so  before  them, 
and  think  it  a  crime  to  know  more  than  they  did ;  so  instead 
of  advancing  go  backwards. 

My  love  to  thee  and  thine,  and  to  the  rest  of  our  friends  in 
thy  neighbourhood  and  elsewhere,  as  opportunity  offers  in  thy 
freedom,  for  I  feel  that  I  love  all  men,  and  in  that  I  have  peace 
with  all ;  and  in  this  I  subscribe  thy  aifectionate  friend. 

ELLIS  HICKS. 


TO  SAMUEL  COMFORT,  BUCKS  COUNTY,  PA. 

Jericho,  7th  mo.  I9th,  1825. 
My  Deah  Friend, 

Thy  letter  of  the  5th  mo.  last  is  now  before  me.     I  have  oft 
perused  it ;  as  its  contents  tend  to  revive  afresh  the  feeling  of 

24 


186  LETTER    TO 

that  brotherly  love  that  binds  together  in  one  all  the  truly 
begotten  children  of  the  heavenly  family.  And  did  all  the 
members  of  our  highly  favoured  and  highly  professing  Society, 
abide  in  this  lo\"e,  it  would  drive  out  and  banish  from  the 
Society  all  tale-bearing,  detraction,  discord,  envy,  and  every 
evil  work,  and  in  lieu  thereof  peace  would  reign  within  our 
walls,  and  prosperity  within  our  palaces. 

But,  alas  !  it  is  otherwise.  The  wild  boar  of  the  forest  has 
made  an  inroad  in  our  pleasant  places ;  the  lion,  that  in  times 
past  was  made  to  lie  down  with  the  lamb,  is  now  prowling 
about,  seeking  to  devour  and  destroy  the  innocent  life,  and  the 
subtle  fox  is  endeavouring  to  deceive  and  bring  within  the 
reach  of  liis  power  the  innocent  lambs,  insomuch  that  wasting 
and  desolation  are  within  our  borders,  and  the  ways  of  Zion 
do  mourn,  for  her  solemn  assemblies  hav^e,  in  some  instances, 
become  places  of  discord. 

Hence  the  necessity  of  every  individual  rallying  to  the 
standard,  the  light  within  ;  for  in  that  only  can  we,  as  a 
people,  unite  our  strength  ;  that  being  our  only  standard  prin- 
ciple from  the  beginning ;  and  if  we  desert  that,  or  add  any 
,  thing  to  it,  as  essential,  besides  good  works,  we  shall  become 
a  broken  and  divided  people,  and  must  remain  so  until  all 
recur  to  this  first  principle  as  our  only  rule  of  faith  and  prac- 
tice ;  and  prove  by  our  fruits  that  we  are  led  and  guided  by 
it ;  that  is,  by  our  just  and  righteous  works,  doing  unto  all 
others  as  we  would  that  others  should  do  unto  us.  ^Ve  are 
then  as  perfect  as  Jesus  and  the  gospel  require,  being  perfect 
as  our  Father  in  heaven  is  perfect ;  and,  if  any  man  requires 
more  than  this  of  any  of  his  fellow  creatures,  he  requires  more 
than  God  and  his  prophets,  and  his  son  Jesus  Christ  require, 
and  therefore  proves  himself  to  be  a  proud  man,  and  if  a 
proud  man,  then  a  fool,  and  knows  not  what  he  sa^;^  nor 
whereof  he  affirms.  And  this  is  the  sad  and  dreadful  lot  of 
every  man  and  woman  who  say  tliey  believe  what  they  do 
not  understand,  which  no  man  can  do  ;  as  no  rational  crea- 
ture can  believe  any  thing  without  evidence,  and  that  Avhich 
we  do  not  understand  cannot  be  evidence : — for  instance,  a 


SAMUEL    COMFORT. 


137 


Greek  may  be  broiiglit  forward  as  an  evidence  in  case  of  theft, 
before  a  judge  who  did  not  nnderstand  his  language,  and 
although  he  was  an  eye  and  an  ear  witness  in  the  case,  and 
might  express  before  the  judge  the  truth,  the  ^^•hole  truth,  and 
nothing  but  the  truth,  yet  the  judge  could  not  believe,  and 
that  because  he  could  not  understand  ;  and  so  it  must  be  with 
every  thing  we  do  not  understand. 

By  information  from  Philadelphia  I  find  that  the  case 
respecting  the  Green  Street  monthly  meeting,  improperly 
taken  up  by  the  quarterly  meeting,  remains  yet  undecided. 
Surely,  \vhen  will  the  Philadelphians  learn  wisdom,  and  be 
willing  to  submit  to  right  order.  May  it  not  be  right  for  some 
plain  simple  countrymen,  under  right  direction,  to  step  in  and 
lend  them  a  hand  of  help,  that  they  may  not  die  in  their  sins. 

I  subscribe  myself  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    W  I  L  ]\I  I  N  G  T  O  N. 

Jericho,  \st  mo.  2\st,  1826.  "* 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Thy  very  acceptable  letter  of  the  14th  instant  came  duly  to 
hand,  and  its  contents  excited  renewed  feelings  of  near  sym- 
pathy with  thee,  in  thy  present  trials  and  bodily  afflictions, 
and  my  desire  and  prayer  is,  that  the  Lord  Almighty,  in  whom 
is  our  life,  and  the  length  of  our  days,  may  so  strengthen  thee 
with  might  in  thy  inner  man,  and  endue  thy  mind  with  ever- 
lasting patience,  that  thou  mayest  not  repine  nor  be  discou- 
raged, but  be  enabled  to  put  thy  whole  trust  and  depcndance 
in  the  I,ord,  for  in  the  Lord  Jehovah  is  everlasting  strengtli. 

My  long  silence  in  regard  to  communing  with  thee  in  this 
way,  as  noted  in  thy  letter,  I  can  assure  thee  has  not  arisen 
from  any  diminution  of  that  near  love  and  regard,  that  has 
subsisted  between  us  from  our  first  acquaintance,  and  which 
knows  no  abatement ;  but  from  the  continued  exercises  and 
avocations  of  various  kinds  that  press  upon  me  and  swallow 


188  LETTER    TO 

up  my  time,  not  allowing  me  to  spend  any  in  idleness,  and 
this  agrees  with  my  best  wishes,  for  none  of  the  moments 
of  time  allotted  to  me,  have  been  so  burdensome  as  those  I 
have  spent  in  idleness. 

Anna  Braithwaite  and  hus-band  have  been  with  us  this 
week,  she  attended  Westbury  monthly  meeting  last  4th  day, 
and  ours  the  day  following ;  I  attended  them  both.  I  had 
not  seen  her,  until  now,  since  her  return  to  this  country,  and 
have  not  spoken  to  her  as  yet,  saving  at  the  close  of  the  first 
meeting,  on  fifth  day  last,  as  I  sat  next  to  her.  When  I  arose 
to  close  the  partition,  I  oftered  her  my  hand,  which  she  faintly 
received.  We  have  interchanged  a  letter  or  two.  She  in- 
formed me  by  a  short  note,  that  if  I  had  any  wish  to  have  any 
communication  with  her  she  was  entirely  willing  ;  to  which  I 
replied,  that  I  had  no  desire  to  have  any  communication  with 
her,  either  directly  or  indirectly,  until  she  had  made  an 
acloiowledgment  for  her  breach  of  friendship,  and  of  the  salu- 
tary discipline  of  our  Society ;  and  as  she  has  not  yet  complied, 
the  way  is  closed  between  us,  and  will  continue  so  until  she 
does  comply.  But  I  informed  her  that,  as  it  regarded  myself,  I 
freely  forgave  her,  but  I  could  not  as  it  respected  the  breach 
made  on  the  wholesome  order  of  the  Society,  as  that  was  not 
in  my  power  to  do.  Her  services  with  us  were  not  acceptable 
to  the  meeting,  her  certificates  were  read  and  minuted,  without 
any  expression  respecting  her  company  and  service,  and  alike 
in  both  the  men's  and  women's  meetings,  and  in  the  same  way 
in  the  men's  meeting  at  Westbury. 

I  have  made  some  remarks  on  Joseph  John  Gurney's  letter 
to  his  friend,  on  the  doctrine  of  redemption,  and  have  thought 
of  sending  them  to  thee,  if  a  suitable  opportunity  offered. 

I  will  note  one  passage  of  his  letter,  pages  31,  32,*  viz. 
"  Here  I  would  remark,  that  while  the  inspired  writers  bear 
the  most  ample  and  decisive  testimony  to  the  unity  of  the 
Supreme  Being ;  while  the  great  principle,  that  God  is  one, 
lies  at  the  very  foundation  of  their  scheme  of  religion  and 

*  J.  J.  Gurney's  letter  has  been  published  by  the  Amorican  Tract  Society,  and 
the  passage  here  quoted  is  to  he  found  on  page  13,  Tract  No.  33. 


WILLIAM     POOLE. 


18f« 


pervades  it  in  every  part ;  we  nevertheless  learn,  from  many 
of  their  declarations,  that  in  that  great  scheme  of  mercy  which 
he  has  ordained  for  our  salvation,  the  one  God  has  manifested 
himself  to  mankind  (with  reverence  be  it  stated)  as  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Spirit."*  Why  should  he  feel  more  rev- 
erence or  fear  in  mentioning  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit, 
than  in  mentioning  the  Supreme  God  ?  The  reason  is  very 
obvious,  it  is  because  God  has  manifested  himself  to  every 
rational  being  under  heaven  by  the  immediate  impression  of 
his  own  life,  light,  and  power,  and  has  manifested  himself 
self-evidently,  so  that  all  must  know  him,  and  his  will  con- 
cerning them ;  but  man  cannot  know  him  self-evidently  when, 
in  his  own  foolish  wisdom,  he  divides  him  into  three  distinct 
parts,  by  which  he  lowers  down  and  degrades  the  divine  cha- 
racter, not  knowing  what  he  says  nor  whereof  he  affirms. 
He  cannot  possibly  prove  it  to  be  true  ;  that  is  the  reason,  I 
apprehend,  the  friend,  when  he  wished  to  give  an  idea  of 
three  in  the  Divine  nature,  was  made  fearful,  even  more  so 
abundantly,  than  when  he  mentioned  the  one  Supreme  God  ; 
and  had  he  attended  to  that  fear  when  he  was  about  to  divide 
God,  to  support  a  superstitious  dogma,  he  would  have  been 
preserved  from  this  absurdity.  This  doctrine  has  grown  out 
of  the  apostacy,  and  lias  no  evidence  for  its  support  in  Scrip- 
ture, reason,  or  truth,  for  the  Scripture  they  mostly  adduce,  is, 
no  doubt,  an  interpolation.!  Another  reason  why  our  author 
felt  such  reverence,  or  fear,  I  apprehend,  is  what  every  man 
witnesses  when  he  is  about  to  assert  something  to  justify  him- 
self in  a  wrong  act,  knowing  he  cannot  bring  any  evidence  to 
prove  the  truth  of  the  assertion,  and  that  it  may  as  likely  be 
false  as  true,  he  trembles  at  tlie  attempt,  and  this  will  be  the 
case  until  custom  has  confirmed  him  in  it.     And  this  fear,  I 

*  Elias  Hicks  was  a  firm  believer  in  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Spirit,  "and 
these  three  are  one;"  it  is  not  therefore,  to  the  terms  that  he  objects,  but  to  the 
manner  in  which  they  are  here  used,  as  implying  a  distinction  in  the.  Divine  natiirf 
—this  distinction  is  clearly  expressed  in  the  paragraph  immediately  following  that 
quoted  by  Elias  Hicks. 

t  I  John  V.  7.  The  authenticity  of  this  text  appears  to  have  been  doubtp.'l  by 
Richard  Claridge,  a  learned  and  highly  esteemed  writer  among  eirly  Friends,  and 
it  is  now  admitted  to  be  an  inierpoiation,  even  by  maiiy  Trinitarians. 


190  LETTER    TO 

have  no  doubt,  has  attended,  more  or  less,  all  who  have 
asserted  the  trinity  of  peisois  in  God,  unless  they  were  edu- 
cated in  the  belief  of  it  from  their  childhood.  For  it  greatly 
derogates  from  the  unity  and  majesty  of  God,  as  it  divides  him 
into  three  separate  substances,  and  of  course  must  destroy  his 
unity,  and  lessen  in  the  mind  the  idea  of  his  self-existing  power, 
for  if  each  of  these  substances  is  equal  in  power,  then  God  the 
Father  has  but  one  third  of  the  power  that  he  possessed  when 
the  fulness  of  the  divine  unity  comprehended,  in  his  undivided 
essence,  all  power  in  heaven,  and  in  earth.  And  as  every 
subsistence  must  have  its  own  proper  substance,  independent 
of  any  other,  hence,  if  the  Father  is  God,  and  the  Son  is  God, 
and  the  Spirit  is  God,  and  each  of  these  a  distinct  person,  or 
being,  then  certainly  three  Gods,  instead  of  one  God,  the  absur- 
dity of  which  must  appear  to  every  man  of  common  sense. 
Thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

New  York,  6th  mo.  \st,  1826. 
Dear  Fhiend, 

Since  my  arrival  in  this  city,  I  have  received  two  letters 
from  thee — the  first  dated  5th  month  12th,  1826 ;  the  other, 
the  18th.  They  were  both  very  acceptable,  especially  the  lat- 
ter. In  the  course  of  the  sittings  of  our  select  yearly  meeting 
at  this  time,  every  portion  of  the  wisdom  of  the  creature  has 
been  exerted,  to  get  a  committee  appointed  to  visit  our  quar- 
terly meeting  of  ministers  and  elders.  The  whole  design,  no 
doubt,  is  to  find  some  way  to  criminate  me ;  but  all  these 
efforts  have  been  fully  defeated  thus  far.  The  subject  sent  up 
from  our  quarterly  meeting  to  the  yearly  meeting,  proposing 
the  appointment  of  elders  to  be  for  a  limited  time,  and  their 
appointments  also  to  be  exclusively  the  business  of  the  monthly 
meeting,  is  thrown  into  the  hands  of  a  large  committee  for  con- 
sideration, and  to  report  their  viev^s  upon  the  subject  to  a 
future  sittinar  of  the  meeting. 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  191 

There  was  rather  an  uncommon  circumstance  transpired 
yesterday  in  our  meeting  for  worship.  A  few  minutes  after 
the  meetinor  assembled,  one  of  our  English  Friends,  E.  R., 
took  the  floor,  and  stood  so  long  that  the  assembly  appeared  to 
be  wearied,  and  as  soon  as  she  sat  down,  A.  B.  kneeled,  and 
almost  as  soon  as  she  had  resumed  her  seat,  11.  J.,  E.  R.,  and 
A.  B.  attempted  to  break  up  the  meeting  by  shaking  hands, 
and  a  number  in  the  next  raised  seat  also  shook  hands ; 
but  the  whole  assembly  sat  still  as  though  riveted  to  their 
seats.  As  the  Friend  who  sat  next  to  E.  Bates,  believing  the 
motion  to  be  premature  and  not  in  order,  refused  to  give  him 
his  hand,  they  could  not  effect  their  object.  And  as  he  and 
T.  Wetherald  sat  still  and  did  not  unite  with  the  motion,  not 
an  individual  left  their  seats,  but  appeared  more  composed. 
In  a  few  minutes  Thomas  stood  up,  and  had  a  very  favoured 
opportunity  with  the  people,  to  the  rejoicing  of  every  heart,  I 
believe,  except  those  who  might  have  let  in  prejudice  and 
envy.* 

*  The  stenographer  who  took  in  short  hand  the  communications  delivered  at  the 
meeting  here  referred  to,  made  the  following  note,  which  was  published  with  the 
sermons  : 

"  As  the  circumstances  of  this  meeting  were  peculiar,  and  have  been  variously 
represented,  it  becomes  the  duty  of  the  stenographer  to  give  a  statement  of  facts 
as  they  appeared  to  liim  at  the  time. 

"  At  an  early  period  of  the  meeting  Mrs.  Robson  rose,  and  continued  to  speak 
for  more  than  an  hour.  She  was  very  soon  succeeded  by  BIrs.  Braithwaite  in  the 
foregoing  p^-ayer ;  immediately  after  which,  Richard  Jordan  and  Elisha  Bates, 
v,ho  sat  at  the  head  of  the  meeting,  shook  hands  as  the  customary  signal  for  a  sepa- 
ration :  but  contrary  to  any  thing  ever  before  witnessed  by  the  stenographer,  or  by 
any  other  person  vvith  whom  he  has  conversed,  not  a  solitary  individual,  among 
more  than  two  thousand,  was  seen  to  move! 

''In  the  course  of  about  a  minute,  there  was  another  and  a  similar  attempt  made 
to  close  the  meeting,  by  R.  Jordan,  E.  Robson,  A.  Braithwaite,  and  some  persons 
occupying  the  second  galleries,  but  it  was  with  the  same  effect !  A  profound 
silence  now  pervaded  the  whole  of  this  large  assembly,  and,  in  breathless  expec- 
tation, every  eye  seemed  riveted  with  intense  interest  upon  the  galleries.  The 
whole  meeting,  simultaneously  breaking  through  the  rules  of  the  Society,  remained 
fixed  and  immovable,  as  if  controlled  by  some  invisible  power.  Such-  was  the 
effect,  that  the  beholder  might  have  easily  conceived  himself  surrounded  by  a  con- 
gregation of  statues,  instead  of  animate  beings.  During  this  interval,  Mr.  Vv'eth- 
erald  rose  and  delivered  the  following  discourse,  which  being  succeeded  by  a  few 
remarks  from  Ehas  Hicks,  a  short  pause  ensued — when  Mr.  Hicks  and  Mr.  Weth- 
erald shook  hands,  and  the  meeting  quietly  dispersed." 


192  LETTER  TO 

With  much  love  to  thee,  with  every  branch  of  thy  family 
and  inquiring  friends,  I  rest  thy  syrapathizmg  and  very  affec- 
tionate friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    AVILMINGTON, 

Jericlw,  Sth  vio.  9th,  1826. 
Mt  Dear  Friend, 

Thy  two  letters  of  6th  mo.  and  thy  last  of  7th  mo.  31st, 
are  now  before  me.  I  have  perused  tliem  several  times  with 
much  satisfaction,  as  they  contained  nothing  to  induce  regret, 
except  the  account  thou  givest  of  thy  continued  bodily  infir- 
mity, and  the  burdens  of  thy  temporal  business,  which  tends 
to  excite  renewed  and  continued  sympathy  with  thee  amidst 
thy  various  trials.  But  let  us,  dear  friend,  through  and  over 
all,  gratefully  remember  that  lie  whose  mercy  is  over  all  his 
works,  and  who  careth  for  the  sparrows,  will  in  his  own  time 
cause  all  things  to  work  together  for  good,  to  those  who  truly 
love  him. 

I  fully  accord  with  thy  views  as  it  respects  the  several  sub- 
jects treated  upon  in  tliy  letters,  and  especially  as  it  regards 
our  English  visitors,  now  supposed  to  be  on  their  passage  to 
this  land,  as  experience  teacheth,  it  is  not  good  to  lay  hands 
suddenly  on  strangers,  but  much  safer  to  be  reserved  and  cau- 
tious both  on  the  Tigfht  hand  and  the  left. 

I  feel  for  them  as  they  are  coming  among  us  in  rather  an 
evil  time ;  a  time,  I  conceive,  in  which  they  will  be  closely 
watched,  and  in  which  they  will  have  need  to  attend  steadily 
to  the  advice  given  b^r  Jesus  to  his  disciples,  "  be  ye  therefore 
wise  as  serpents  and  harmless  as  doves,"  for  should  they 
Ij.ippen  to  tread  in  the  steps  of  their  forerunners,  some  of 
whom  have  lately  departed  our  coast,  they  may  have  cause  to 
Tuo  the  day  they  landed  on  our  shore,  which  I  fear  is  the  case 
■)[  those  who  lately  left  us. 

We  had  the  company,  last  first  day  week,  of  J.  W.  and  com 


WILLIAM    POOLE. 


103 


panion  from  the  district  of  Maine,  and  A.  B.  from  yonr  yearly 
meeting. 

J.  W.  appears  to  be  an  innocent  and  well  intentioned  person, 
but  of  small  experience,  and  not  sufficiently  established  on  the 
one  only  unshaken  foundation,  to  travel  abroad  in  the  work 
of  the  gospel,  in  the  present  time  of  commotion  in  the  Society  ; 
for  I  fear  that  in  his  late  journey  he  has  not  only  suffered  loss 
himself,  but,  in  some  instances,  has  rather  wounded  than  pro- 
moted the  cause  he  professed  to  advocate. 

Things,  as  they  relate  to  the  discordant  sentiments  of  some 
among  us,  are  at  present  somewhat  at  a  stand,  but  I  don't 
know  that  the  professed  orthodox,  have,  as  yet,  become  so 
convinced  of  the  weakness  and  inconsistency  of  their  tra- 
ditional views,  as  willingly  to  barter  them  away  for  those  that 
are  better.  But  this  is  no  strange  thing,  for  it  is  as  Paul  says, 
blindness  in  part  has  happened  to  Israel,  and  that  not  only  in 
Paul's  time,  but  in  every  age  and  dispensation  of  God  to  his 
creature  man ;  for  children  are  so  apt  to  place  implicit  confi- 
dence in  their  parents  and  tutors,  whose  seeming  pious  conduct 
they  are  led  to  venerate,  that  often,  for  want  of  due  considera- 
tion, they  set  up  the  standard  their  parents  left  them,  inso- 
much that  the  reproof  of  the  martyr  Stephen  will,  more  or  less, 
apply  to  some  in  every  succeeding  generation,  '•  As  your 
fathers  did  so  do  ye."  This  has  been  very  apparent  in  our 
Society,  as  well  as  in  every  other,  both  in  a  moral  and  reli- 
gious point  of  view.  See  how  hard  it  has  been  for  Friends  in 
Pennsylvania,  to  give  up  the  part  they  took  in  the  coercive 
governments  of  this  world,  and  what  a  struggle  Friends  had 

O  '  CO 

to  "bring  their  members  from  holding  their  fellow  men  in 
slavery.  An  old  man,  an  elder  and  leader  in  Society,  and 
one  whom  I  truly  loved,  chose  rather  to  be  separated  from 
society  than  to  set  his  slaves  fi^ee,  and  was  disowned,  as  were 
several  others  of  my  acquaintance.  And  we  need  only  exa- 
mine the  history  of  the  past,  and  it  will  appear  that  in  all  ages. 
since  the  fall  of  man,  tradition  and  popularity  have  been  in 
general  the  governing  principle  among  the  children  of  men, 
in  preference  to  strict  justice  and  truth,  and  never  more  so 

25 


194 


LETTER    TO 


than  in  our  day, — if  we  are  to  judge  professors  by  their  works 
and  fruits. 

Thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    THOMAS    M 'CLIN  TOOK,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Jericho,  8th  mo.  U(h,  1826. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Thy  letter  of  3d  month  last,  by  W.  B.  I.,  was  duly  received, 
and  very  acceptable,  as  its  contents  were  corroborative  of  my 
own  sentiments  and  feeling,  on  the  several  subjects  of  which 
it  treated,  particularly  as  respects  the  agitation  in  Society. 
Por  no  real  and  perfect  birth,  either  in  a  moral  or  religious 
sense,  is  brought  forth  without  pain  and  labour.  And  this 
was  the  prophet's  view  formerly,  wliich  led  him  to  exclaim, 
"  When  Zion  travailed,  she  brought  forth  children."  And  I 
have  no  doubt  but  that  the  present  stir  and  agitation  in  our 
Society,  has  been  productive  of  many  living  and  substantial 
births. 

Had  the  same  state  of  supineness  and  ease  continued,  that 
had  for  a  long  time  been  prevalent  among  us,  many,  I  believe, 
who  are  now  quickened,  and  alive  in  concern  for  truth's  pros- 
perity, might  still  have  remained  easy  and  secure  amidst  their 
worldly  enjoyments.  But  the  conflicting  views  and  discordant 
opinions,  that  have  for  a  few  years  past  agitated  the  minds  of 
the  people,  have  naturally  led  the  minds  of  our  Friends,  espe- 
cially those  in  younger  life,  into  an  investigation,  to  think  and 
search  for  themselves,  and  no  longer  pin  their  faith  on  the 
sleeves  of  their  predecessors,  but  to  know  the  foundation  that 
is  immovable,  and  that  cannot  be  shaken,  for  themselves. 
And  msiUY,  I  believe,  have  profited  greatly  by  their  own  right 
labour  and  exercise.  But  all  who  may  seem  to  take  part  i)i 
the  commotion  and  exercise,  may  not,  for  want  of  faithfulness 
and  stability,  prove  good  and  wholesome  fish,  but  as  is  repre- 
sented by  the  parable  of  a  draw-net,  many  may  be  enclosed 
t!iercui  that  the  head  fisherman,  wiien  he  comes  to  make  Ills 


THOMAS    m'cMNTOCK.  195 

selection,  will  cast  back  into  the  sea  again,  while  he  will  sav 
all  the  good.  And  some  may  be  like  the  seed  that  fell  on  the 
highway ;  the  light  chaffy  spirit  may  devour  it.  And  some 
like  the  seed  on  stony  ground,  tliat  springs  up  quickly,  but  for 
want  of  depth,  when  trials  and  tribulations  attend,  they  are 
scorched  by  the  heat,  or  give  back  and  are  offended.  And 
some  may  be  like  the  seed  in  thorny  ground,  which,  although 
it  springs  up  and  seems  to  take  root  for  a  time,  yet  through  the 
admission  of  the  cares  of  this  world,  and  the  deceitfulness  of 
riches,  it  is  choked,  and  brings  forth  no  fruit,  to  the  honour  of 
the  husbandman.  But  those  who,  out  of  a  good  heart,  receive 
the  seed  in  the  love  of  it,  and  give  all  their  strength  and  ability 
to  its  support  and  growth,  in  these  it  will  produce  "some  thirty, 
some  sixty,  and  some  an  hundred  fold,"  to  the  honour  of  the 
Great  Seedsman. 

Our  transatlantic  friends,  I.  and  A.  B.,  have,  I  think,  by 
keeping  their  design  so  much  behind  the  curtain,  made  rather 
an  inglorious  exit,  especially  the  latter,  not  giving  their  friends 
generally  an  opportunity  of  a  parting  kiss,  and  the  accompa- 
niment of  their  good  desires  for  a  prosperous  and  pleasant  pas- 
sage to  their  native  shore.  However,  they  are  gone  ;  and  I 
apprehend  if  they  have  made  any  right  move  while  among  us, 
this  latter  stands  paramount  to  all  the  rest :  so  that  they  have 
left  nothing  else  for  us  to  do  relative  to  them,  l)ut  to  pray  for 
their  safe  arrival  to  their  native  land,  and  the  gladdening  em- 
braces of  their  family  and  friends,  and  an  increase  of  light  and 
knowledge  in  wisdom's  ways ;  which  the  upright  in  heart 
know  to  be  Vv^ays  of  pleasantness,  and  all  her  paths  to  be  paths 
of  peace. 

We  will  now  take  leave  of  those  that  are  gone,  and  reflect 
a  little  on  their  anticipated  successors,  for  whose  preservation 
and  safe-keeping  while  among  us,  should  they  be  permitted  to 
land  on  our  shore,  I  feel  considerable  solicitude.  For  unless 
they  attend  carefully  to  the  advice  given  by  our  great  Pattern 
and  perfect  Way-mark,  to  his  primitive  disciples,  to  be  "  wise 
as  serpents,  and  harmless  as  doves," — that  is.  unless  through 
deep  suffering  and  temptation,  they  have  so  learned  in  the 


196  LETTER    TO 

school  of  experience,  as  to  become  real  adepts  in  the  myste- 
ries of  iniquity,  and  fully  so  in  the  mysteries  of  godliness,  both 
which  I  conceive  are  comprehended  in  the  above  declaration 
of  Jesus,  they  may  have  cause  rather  to  curse  than  bless  the 
day  they  landed  on  the  American  shore.  And  it  is  my  sincere 
desire,  that  Friends  here  may  lay  fast  hold  of  the  same  advice. 
For  if  good  to  the  visiters,  it  is  surely  as  necessary  for  the 
visited,  in  order  that  we  may  be  mutually  improved,  and  har- 
moniously build  together  the  waste  places,  by  each  carefully 
building  against  his  own  house. 

We  have  recently,  in  our  family  circle,  met  with  a  very  close 
trial,  in  the  decease  of  our  grand -daughter,  Mary  Hicks,  second 
daughter  of  Valentine  and  Abigail  Hicks.  A  very  great  trial 
to  her  parents  and  their  surviving  children,  and  to  all  of  us 
indeed,  as  she  was  a  very  sensible  and  promising  young 
woman,  and  bid  fair  to  be  a  great  comfort  and  strength  to  her 
parents.  But  she  has  gone,  I  trust,  to  her  peaceful  home, 
"  where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  the  weary  are 
at  rest,"  beyond  the  reach  and  noise  of  archers.  And  all  we 
have  on  our  part  now  to  do,  is  quietly  to  acquiesce  in  the  Di- 
vine will,  and  passively  and  clieerfully  submit  to  the  dispos- 
ings  of  a  gracious  Providence,  who,  in  his  infinite  wisdom  and 
mercy,  does  all  things  well.  She  departed  last  evening,  about 
11  o'clock,  in  great  quiet,  without  any  struggle  or  bodily 
emotion. 

In  near  love  to  thyself,  wife,  and  children,  in  which  mine 
unite,  I  subscribe  thy  affectionate  friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  2d  mo.  mh,  1827. 
Dear  Friend, 

Thy  two  letters  received  since  my  return  home,  have  been 
very  acceptable ;  and  although  I  have  not  wrote,  yel  the  omis- 
sion has  not  arisen  from  anv  abatement  of  love  and  regard, 


WILLIAM    POOLE.  197 

but  from  the  press  of  many  avocations,  both  of  a  moral  and 
rehgious  nature,  that  absorb  my  time,  so  that  my  correspond- 
ence with  my  friends  in  this  way,  is  generally  much  in  arrear. 

I  observe  that  thou  hast  a  hope,  that  amidst  all  the  agitation 
and  intemperance  that  is  manifested  by  the  intolerant  party  in 
Philadelphia,  called  Orthodox,  that  the  trutli  is  making  its  way. 
But,  I  apprehend,  it  is  possible  that  through  the  supineness  of 
those  who  see  the  incorrectness  of  those  who  are  opposing  the 
truth, — by  their  keeping  silence,  and  nof  standing  forth  to 
show  themselves  to  be  on  the  Lord's  side. — they  will  greatly 
strengthen  the  hands  of  those  opposers  of  right  order,  as  they 
will  consider  all  who  sit  silent,  while  they  are  pressing  forward 
their  proposals,  are  on  their  side :  for,  I  apprehend,  in  this 
time  of  trial,  none  ought  to  be  neutral,  but  stand  forth  openly 
and  boldly  for  the  promotion  of  truth's  cause ;  for  otherwise, 
they  will  strengthen  the  hands  of  their  opposers.  Since  my 
return  home,  I  have  been  considerably  afllicted  with  a  cold 
and  cough,  and  am  now  keeping  house  on  that  account. 

On  my  return,  at  our  last  monthly  meeting,  the  only  one  I 
have  attended  since  I  came  home,  I  found  a  necessity  of  lay- 
ing before  my  friends  a  concern  that  had  been  for  some  time 
impressive  on  my  mind,  to  })ay  a  religious  visit  to  the  families 
of  Friends  in  the  two  monthly  meetings  of  Westbury  and  Jeri- 
cho, which,  after  consideration,  was  fully  united  with  by  the 
meeting.  I  made  a  little  beginning  last  week,  but  have  been 
prevented  from  going  on  this  week  through  indisposition. 

•The  case  of  the  three  Friends  under  the  notice  of  our 
monthly  meeting  for  a  breach  of  unity,  is  still  under  care,  as 
the  committee  in  the  case  have  not  made  any  report  thereon, 
but  probably  may  at  our  next  monthly  meeting.  Except  these, 
our  monthly  meeting  is  generally  united,  and  in  harmony  one 
with  another.  Our  late  quarterly  meeting  united  in  establish- 
ing a  meeting  for  worship  in  t?ie  village  of  Jerusalem,  about 
seven  miles  from  this  place,  in  a  southern  direction. 

Thy  friends  and  acquaintance  hereaway  are  generally  in 
usual  health,  colds  excepted,  which  are  pretty  prevalent. 
Abraham  Hicks  is  still  very  ill,  and  we  are  ready  to  conclude 


198 


LETTER    TO 


he  can  continue  but  a  little  longer,  without  some  essential 
amendment.  His  has  been  a  very  long  and  trying  scene  of 
affliction,  which  he  has  borne  with  patience. 

Thy  affectionate  friend.  ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    SAMUEL    COMFORT,    BUCKS    COUNTY,   PA. 

Jericho,  3(h  mo.  29th,  1S27. 
Mv  Dear  Fbiend, 

Thy  kind  and  very  acceptable  letter  of  1st  mo.  last  was 
duly  received,  but  through  the  intervention  "of  various  exer- 
cises of  different  kinds,  which  have  taken  me  from  home  a 
considerable  part  of  the  time  since  its  reception,  way  has  not 
opened  to  answer  it  till  now. 

As  to  thy  proposition  for  writing  an  essay  on  the  various 
subjects  therein  mentioned,  I  feel  myself  entirely  inadequate 
for  the  purpose  at  present ;  although  I  have  often  had  very 
clear  presentations  on  some  of  those  subjects,  but  I  was  cir- 
cumstanced as  one  formerly,  who  was  commanded  to  seal  up 
the  vision  and  not  write  it  for  the  present,  as  it  is  likely  most 
of  the  people  could  not  bear  it  at  the  present  time,  even  some 
of  the  members  of  our  favoured  Society. 

But  the  time  is  hastening  apace  when  those  things  that  are 
opened  or  spoken  in  secret,  will  be  published  on  the  house 
top,  and  no  power  on  earth  can  let  or  hinder  truth's  spreading, 
and  it  will  prosper  and  prevail,  and  overturn  all  those  Anti- 
christian  structures  that  the  man  of  sin  and  son  of  perdition 
has  reared,  during  the  long  and  dark  night  of  apostacy,  that 
has  overspread  all  Christendom  for  more  than  fifteen  hundred 
years,  a  darkness  like  that  of  Egypt,  a  darkness  that  all  the 
Lord's  living  children  can  feel  and  are  at  times  baptized  therein 
for  the  dead. 

Thou  hast,  no  doubt,  been  informed  of  the  Protests  that 
two  of  the  mont?dy  meetings  of  Philadelphia,  viz.  that  of  Pine 
Street  and  Twelfth  Street,  have  sent  forward  against  me  to 
our  monthly  meeting  ;    they  were  brought  by  two  Friends. 


SAMUEL    COMFORT.  199 

that  from  Pine  Street  by  Isaac  W.  Morris,  and  tliat  from 
Twelfth  Street  by  Jasper  Cope  ;  they  attended  our  monthly 
meeting  on  the  occasion,  canie  in  rather  late,  and  after  the 
meeting  had  proceeded  a  little  in  the  business  before  them, 
I.  W.  Morris  arose  and  informed  the  meeting  that  he  was  the 
bearer  of  a  communication  from  their  monthly  nieeting  to 
ours,  and  handed  it  to  the  clerk,  and  the  other  Friend  made 
the  like  observation  and  handed  forward  his  paper  ;  they  then 
took  their  seats,  and  neither  of  them  opened  their  mouths 
ag-ain  durina:  the  meetinof.  A  month  before  this  I  handed  in 
my  certificate,  which  had  been  granted  me  to  perform  my  late 
visit  in  your  parts,  with  an  indorsement  of  unity  from  the 
southern  quarterly  meeting,  and  one  of  the  same  tenor  froni 
Darby  monthly  meeting.  1  also  opeiied  a  prospect  of  ;i 
visit  to  the  families  of  Friends  of  the  two  monthly  meetings  o: 
Westbury  and  Jericho,  at  that  meeting,  and  received  the  fu'' 
unity  of  my  friends  therein,  all  which  was  entered  on  minute, 
and  these  minutes  were  read  at  the  present  meeting,  in  the 
hearing  of  these  two  Philadelphia  Friends,  as  also  three  other 
certificates  from  the  monthly  meetings  of  Green  Street,  Abing 
ton,  and  Byberry,  all  expressive  of  their  unity  and  satisfaction 
with  me  in  my  late  visit  among  them.  We  likewise  conductef' 
all  the  business  that  came  before  us  in  harmony  and  concord. 
I  omitted  in  the  right  place  to  mention,  that  when  the  Friend-^ 
handed  in  their  communications  to  the  clerk,  he  informed  the- 
meeting  what  they  were,  and  proposed  that  a  few  Friends  shouh: 
be  verbally  appointed  to  examine  them  and  report  to  next  meet- 
ing, whether  they  were  suitable  to  be  read  in  the  meeting,  the 
proposition  was  united  in  without  a  dissenting  voice  ;  when 
the  meeting  closed,  I  spoke  with  the  Friends,  and  pressingly 
invited  them  to  go  home  with  me  and  take  dinner,  as  did 
several  others  of  my  particular  friends,  but  they  excused  them- 
selves by  informing  us  they  were  under  a  pre-engagement  to 
dine  elsewhere.  At  the  next  monthly  meeting  the  committee 
nominated,  proposed  the  reading  of  those  communications : 
they  were  accordingly  read  and  unitedly  reprobated  by  the 
meeting,    as    comprehending    little    besides     falsehood    and 


200 


LETTEB     TO 


calumny,  and  were  judged  to  be  unworthy  of  a  place  on  our 
minutes,  and  were  accordingly  rejected  and  no  further  notice 
taken  of  them.  Thus  ended  a  monstrous  deal  of  useless 
labour  and  toil  of  a  part  of  a  monthly  meeting,  in  the  city  of 
brotherly  love,  which,  it  is  to  be  feared,  is  degenerated  into  a 
city  of  brotherly  hatred  and  envy.  Alas,  for  the  day  !  Would 
not  the  blessed  Jesus,  if  he  were  now  to  visit  her,  wail  over 
her  as  he  did  over  Jerusalem  formerly,  and  say,  O,  Philadel- 
phia !  Philadelphia  !  thou  that  wouldst  kill  tlie  prophets,  and 
stone  them  that  are  sent  unto  thee,  how  oft  would  I  have 
gathered  thee,  as  a  hen  gathereth  her  brood  under  her  wings, 
but  ye  would  not,  therefore  some  of  your  houses  are  left  unto 
you  desolate. 

I  am  just  about  closing  my  family  visit,  above  alluded  to, 
and  feel  peace  in  my  labours  of  love  among  my  friends,  all 
whose  houses  and  hearts  appeared  to  be  open  kindly  and 
cheerfully  to  receive  me  in  this  arduous  exercise,  and,  to  all  ap- 
pearances, we  were  mutually  comforted  in  each  other,  as  fully 
so  as  could  reasonably  be  expected  in  the  present  weak  state 
of  the  Society. 

I  am  now  about  retiring  to  the  king's  gate,  like  Mordecai 
formerly,  there  to  wait  for  fresh  orders  and  whether  it  may  be 
to  retire  from  the  field  of  labour  and  rest  for  a  while,  and  put 
my  house  in  order,  and  be  prepared  to  go  hence  and  be  seen 
of  men  no  more  on  this  stage  of  action  ;  or,  whether  I  may  be 
called  to  some  small  chores  of  farther  labour  in  the  vineyai'd 
of  the  heavenly  husbandman,  suited  to  my  declining  years,  I 
laiow  not,  but  cheerfully  submit  to  His  heavenly  disposal,  wlio 
doeth  all  things  well,  and  endeavour  to  be  continually  pre- 
pared to  say,  in  whatever  way  he  may  be  pleased  to  turn  his 
hand  upon  me,  '•  Thy  will  be  done,  O  Lord.-' 

My  family  and  friends  hereaway,  of  tliy  acquaintance,  are 
in  usual  health.  Abraham  Hicks,  who  has  been  for  a  long 
time  very  ill,  is  at  present  a  little  better,  but  very  weak. 

With  near  love  to  thyself  and  family,  and  other  friends  of 
our  acquaintance  in  thy  neighbourhood,  I  subscribe  thy  affec- 
tionate friend.  ELIAS  HICKS. 


ISAAC    T.    HOPPER.  201 

TO   ISAAC    T.   HOPPER,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Jericho,  6tli  mo.  8th,  1827. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Thy  very  acceptable  letter  of  29th  ult.  was  duly  received, 
bearing  information  of  the  steps  some  of  my  dear  friends  have 
been  driven  to  take,  in  order  to  maintain  their  just  rights  and 
that  Christian  liberty  that  the  gospel  has  entailed  as  a  perpetual 
legacy  on  all  its  devoted  and  faithful  children.  And  although 
the  present  state  of  things  among  us,  a  once  highly  favoured 
Society,  may  look  dark  and  gloomy,  nevertheless,  I  anticipate  a 
hope,  that  the  Lord  Almighty,  in  the  riches  of  his  love,  and  in 
the  majesty  of  his  power,  will,  in  his  own  time,  which  only  is 
the  best  time,  arise  for  the  redemption  of  the  oppressed  seed, 
and  will  open  a  way  for  their  deliverance,  and  cause  them  to 
tread  upon  the  necks  of  all  their  enemies  and  those  who  rise 
up  against  them,  and  cause  them  to  sing  on  the  banks  of  deli- 
verance ;  while  that  Egyptian  spirit,  that  delights  in  oppres- 
sion, will  be  swallowed  up  in  the  Red  Sea  of  tlieir  own  unsta- 
ble thoughts  and  vain  imaginations,  while  it  goes  stalking 
about  with  its  chariots  and  horsemen,  to  wit,  the  arm  of  flesh, 
in  order  to  bring  back  again  into  Egyptian  bondage  the 
wrestling  seed  of  Jacob.  For  the  Lord  from  his  holy  hill, 
will  look  down  upon  them  and  cause  confusion  in  their  camp, 
and  confound  all  their  counsels,  and  cause  them  to  fall  a  prey 
to  their  own  deceivings  ;  and  they  will  not  be  able  to  rise  any 
more.     May  the  Lord  hasten  it  in  his  own  time  and  will. 

Our  yearly  meeting  has  been  the  most  distressing  and  trying 
we  have  ever  known  ;  and  although  those  who  would  be  rulers 
have  taken  counsel  together,  and  imagined  vain  things,  never- 
theless it  has  all  been  turned  backward,  and  made  to  rest  on 
their  own  heads. 

As  the  bearer  of  this,  Phineas  Jannej'",  is  about  taking  his 
leave  to  proceed  homeward,  I  must  now  draw  to  a  close  ;  and 
with  much  love  to  self,  wife,  and  children,  m  which  mine  unite, 
I  subscribe  thy  affectionate  friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 
26 


202  LETTER    TO 

TO    MOSES    PENNOCK,    CHESTER    COUNTY,    PA. 

Jericho,  1th  mo.  22,  1827. 
Esteemed  Friend, 

Thine  of"  the  sixth  month  last  was  duly  received,  and  its 
contents  have  been  examined,  and  I  was  made  to  marvel,  why 
any  in  this  enlightened  age,  who  have  the  opportunity  of  read- 
ing and  examining  the  Scriptures,  should  be  at  a  loss  for  an- 
swers to  the  queries  therein  contained — especially  such  who 
profess  being  led  by  an  unerring  guide,  the  light  within,  or 
spirit  of  truth,  or  law  written  in  the  hearts  of  the  children  of 
men,  by  which  all  may  know  God  for  themselves  ;  as  saith  the 
Lord  by  his  prophet,  "  All  shall  know  me  from  the  least  to  the 
greatest ;"  and  tlierefore  have  no  need  to  inquire  or  to  say  to  a 
neighbour  or  brother,  know  the  Lord.  And  when  we  come 
truly  to  know  God,  all  such  queries  will  be  answered. 

The  first  query  necessary  then  to  be  considered  is,  what  is 
God?  To  which  the  answer  is  plain  ;  as  is  testified  through 
the  whole  scope  of  Scripture,  and  the  general  consent  of  man- 
kind,— "  God  is  a  spirit."  And  he  is  one  spirit  and  not  two — 
a  complete  unity  in  himself,  entirely  independent  of  all  other 
causes,  being  the  only  self-existing  great  first  cause,  to  whom 
all  other  causes  owe  their  existence,  and  from  whom  they  have 
derived  their  being.  And  as  God  is  but  one  spirit,  so  of  neces- 
sity there  is  but  one  sole  good  ;  for  which  truth  we  have  the 
absolute  testimony  of  his  Son,  for  he  saith,  "  There  is  none 
good  but  one,  and  that  is  God."  Hence,  of  course,  there  is  but 
one  self-existing  divinity,  and  that  is  God  alone,  who  filleth  all 
things,  and  by  whom  all  things  consist,  and  in  whom  all  things 
that  have  life,  live  and  move,  and  have  their, being,  from  the 
most  exalted  inhabitant  of  the  highest  heaven,  to  the  smallest 
insect  in  earth  or  sea.  And  each  must  possess  a  fulness  of  his 
power,  according  to  their  nature  and  being,  as  every  efiect 
must  rest  upon  its  cause,  or  it  would  fall  into  a  state  of  anni- 
hilation. Even  the  vegetable  tribes  depend  upon  his  power 
for  being  and  life,  as  docs  every  other  part  of  his  creation. 


MOSES    PENNOCK.  203 

As  to  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  son  of  the  virgin, — 
when  he  had  arrived  to  a  full  state  of  sonship  in  the  spiritual 
generation,  he  was  MiioUy  swallowed  up  into  tlie  divinity  of 
his  heavenly  Father,*  and  was  one  with  his  Father,  with  only 
this  difference  ;  his  Father's  divinity  was  underived,  being 
self-existent,  but  the  son's  divinity  was  altogether  derived  from 
the  Father  ;  for  otherwise  he  could  not  be  the  son  of  God,  as 
in  the  moral  relation  to  be  a  son  of  man,  the  son  must  be  be- 
gotten by  one  father,  and  he  must  be  in  the  same  nature,  spirit, 
and  likeness  of  his  father,  so  as  to  say,  I  and  my  father  are  one 
in  all  those  respects.  But  this  was  not  the  case  with  Jesus  in 
the  spiritual  relation,  until  he  had  gone  through  the  last  insti- 
tute of  tlie  law  dispensation,  viz.  John's  watery  baptism,  and 
had  received  additional  powert  from  on  high,  by  tlie  descend- 
ing of  the  holy  ghost  upon  him  as  he  came  up  out  of  tlie 
water.t  He  then  witnessed  the  fulness  of  the  second  birth, 
being  now  born  into  the  nature,  spirit,  and  likeness  of  the  hea- 
venly Father,  and  God  gave  witness  of  it  to  John,  saying, 
"  This  is  my  beloved  son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased."  And 
this  agrees  with  Paul's  testimon^^,  where  he  assures  us  that  as 
many  as  are  led  by  the  spirit  of  God,  do  become  the  sons  of 
God.§  So  Jesus,  by  being  faithful  to  the  leading  of  the  spirit 
of  God,  fulfilled  all  the  righteousness  of  the  Jewish  law,||  and 
was  then  prepared  to  receive  additional  power  from  on  high, 
by  which  he  was  qualified  to  enter  upon  his  gospel  mission, 
and  introduce  the  new  covenant,  prophesied  of  long  before  by 
Jeremy  the  prophet,  and  by  which  he  went  far  beyond  all  the 
former  prophets,  l^  and  witnessed  in  spirit  the  substance  of  all  the 
shadows  of  their  law  and  covenant,  being  the  son  of  God  witJi 
power,  according  to  the  spirit  of  holiness  by  the  resurrection 
from  the  dead.**  And  all  who  come  rightly  into  the  new  cove- 
nant, and  are  led  by  the  spirit  that  Jesus  commanded  his  disci- 
ples to  wait  for,tt  become  the  sons  of  God,  and  joint  heirs  with 
Jesus  Christ,U  and  are  made  kings  and  priests  unto  God,?§ 

♦  2  Pet.  i.  4.        t  Luke  ii.  52.       t  Matt.  iii.  16.       §  Rom.  viii.  14.       II  Matt.  iii.  1.5. 

H  Acts,  iii.  22.     Heb.  i.  6,  9.      **  Rom.  i.  4.     -ft  Luke,  .\xiv.  49.     tt  Rom.  viii.  17. 

§§  Rev.  i.  6,  and  v.  10. 


204  LETTER    TO 

having  overcome  the  world  as  Jesus  did,  and  are  preachers 
of  righteousness  both  in  word  and  deed. 

Thy  next  query  respectuig  the  miraculous  conception,  (fcc. 
is  to  me  a  very  plain,  simple  thing.  All  the  external  miracles 
of  the  Jewish  covenant,  had  but  one  aim  and  end ;  and  the 
miraculous  conception  of  Jesus,  and  of  Isaac  and  John  the 
Baptist,  were  among  the  greatest ;  all  of  which  were  intended 
to  prove  to  that  dark  and  ignorant  people,  debased  by  their 
bondage,  that  there  was  a  living  and  invisible  God  ;  for  such 
was  their  degraded  state,  that  no  other  means  seemed  calcu- 
lated to  awaken  them,  and  raise  in  them  a  belief  in  that  invi- 
si])le  power,  that  made  and  governed  the  world,  but  an  exter- 
nal manifestation  thereof,  through  the  medium  of  outward 
miracles.  And  as  Moses  and  the  prophets  had  foretold  of  the 
coming  of  their  last  g:reat  prophet,  it  was  of  singular  import- 
ance to  that  people,  that  they  should  know  and  believe  in  him 
when  he  came  ;  and  as  they  depended  on  outward  miracles  as 
the  highest  evidence  under  that  dispensation,  so  it  is  not  only 
reasonable,  but  even  natural  to  suppose,  that  he  would  be  ush- 
ered in  by  some  miraculous  display  of  divine  power.  Hence 
the  reason,  likewise,  of  the  many  miracles  that  Jesus  was  em- 
powered to  work  among  them,  as  they  were  too  outward  and 
carnal  to  receive  evidence  through  any  other  medium.  And 
we  likewise  see,  that  none  but  those  who  believed  on  him  as 
their  promised  Messiah,  were  prepared  to  receive  and  obey  his 
last  counsel  and  command,  to  turn  from  outward  and  external 
evidence,  to  that  which  is  inward  and  spiritual  ;*  the  latter 
being  as  nmch  above  the  former,  as  the  gospel  state  is  above 
the  law  state,  or  the  spirit  above  the  letter.  For  where  Moses 
is  read,  or  the  law  state  with  its  outward  miracles,  there  is  a 
veil  upon  the  heart,  and  it  leads  back  to  the  letter,  or  external 
evidence,  which  killeth  ;t  but  this  veil  is  taken  way  in  Christ 
or  the  gospel  state,  wherein  all  have  free  access  to  the  throne 
of  grace,  without  priest  or  book. 

Thou  further  queries,  why  was  he  permitted  to  suffer  death  ? 
Is  not  the  reason  obvious.     Why  were  the  Lord's  prophets  and 

*  John,  xiv.  16,  17,  and  xvi.  7.  t  2  Cor.  iii.  6. 


MOSES    PENNOCK.  5i05 

faithful  servants,  in  the  various  ages  of  the  Vv^orld,  permitted  to 
suffer  death  ?  Was  it  not  always  the  same  thing,  because  there 
was  no  other  alternative ;  for  they  must  either  give  up  their 
lives  for  the  testimony  of  truth,  and  a  good  conscience  towards 
God,  or  they  must  deny  the  truth,  and  disobey  God,  by  con- 
f:>rming  to  their  opposers  and  persecutors.  But  tliey  chose 
rather  to  obey  God  tlian  man  ;  therefore  they  had  rather  suffer 
death,  than  to  balk  their  testimony  to  the  truth,  which  eveiy 
wise  and  honest  man  would  likewise  prefer.  And  it  was  the 
same  case  with  Jesus  ;  he  had  rather  suffer  death,  and  seal  his 
testimony  to  the  truth  with  his  blood,  than  to  turn  aside  from 
the  truth  to  please  his  wicked  persecutors,  as  he  told  Pilate  the 
Roman  governor,  "  To  this  end  was  I  born,  and  for  this  cause 
came  I  into  the  world,  that  I  should  bear  witness  unto  the 
truth." 

And  as  to  his  resurrection  from  the  dead,  it  is  simple  and 
plain,  as  all  the  ways  of  an  infinitely  wise  and  gracious  God 
are,  and  must  be  so  to  his  rational  creature  man,  whom  he  hath 
created  for  the  purpose  of  liis  own  glory,  and  therefore  his 
whole  duty  must  be  comprehended  in  plain  simple  truth,  that 
every  individual  endued  with  common  understanding  may 
know  and  comprehend.  Even  the  wayfaring  man,  though  a 
fool  to  the  wisdom  and  science  of  this  world,  cannot  err  therein. 
And  for  any  reasonable  creature  to  judge  otherwise.  I  conceive 
is  casting  a  great  indignity  on  the  Divine  character. 

When  we  consider  the  outward  law  and  covenant  made 
with  the  people  of  Israel,  with  all  its  parts  and  appendages, 
from  its  first  institution  to  the  ascension  of  Christ,  we  shall 
perceive  that  it  is  to  be  regarded  as  a  mere  shadow  or  figure 
of  good  things  to  come.  And  all  those  shadows  were  mani- 
fested externally  to  the  outward  senses  of  man,  and  all  com- 
prehended in  and  by  external  objects;  but  the  good  things 
pointed  to  by  them,  are  internal,  in  the  soul,  and  only  known 
by  the  inward  and  spiritual  senses ;  and  this  last  shadow  of 
the  resurrection  of  the  outward  body  of  Jesus,  and  of  some 
few  others  in  the  course  of  that  dispensation,  is  the  highest 
and  most  valuable,  as  it  had  in  its  design  and  tendency  the 


206  LETTER    TO 

awakening  of  the  unbeliever,  tlie  Sadducee,  to  a  belief  of  the 
sufficiency  of  an  invisible  power,  that  was  able  to  do  any- 
thing and  every  thing,  that  is  consistent  with  justice,  mercy, 
and  truth,  and  that  would  conduce  to  the  exaltation  and  good 
of  his  creature  man.  Therefore  the  resurrection  of  the  dead 
body  of  Jesus,  that  could  not  possibly,  of  itself,  create  in  itself 
a  power  to  loose  the  bonds  of  death,  and  which  must  conse- 
quently have  been  the  work  of  an  invisible  power,  points  to, 
and  is  a  shadow  of,  the  resurrection  of  the  soul,  that  is  dead  in 
trespasses  and  sins,  and  that  hath  no  capacity  to  quicken  itself, 
but  depends  wholly  on  the  renewed  influence  and  quickening 
power  of  the  spirit  of  God.  For  a  soul  dead  in  trespasses  and 
sins,  can  no  more  raise  a  desire  of  itself  for  a  renewed  quick- 
ening of  the  divine  life  in  itself,  than  a  dead  body  can  raise  a 
desire  of  itself  for  a  renewal  of  natural  life ;  but  both  equally 
depend  on  the  omnipotent  presiding  power  of  the  spirit  of 
God,  as  is  clearly  set  forth  by  the  prophet  under  the  simili- 
tude of  the  resurrection  of  dry  bones  :  Ezekiel,  xxxvii.  1. 

Hence,  the  resurrection  of  the  outward  fleshly  body  of  Je- 
sus, and  some  few  others,  under  the  law  dispensation,  as  mani- 
fested to  the  external  senses  of  man,  gives  full  evidence  as  a 
shadow,  pointing  to  the  sufficiency  of  the  divine  invisible  power 
of  God,  to  raise  the  soul  from  a  state  of  spiritual  death  into 
newness  of  life,  and  into  the  enjoyment  of  the  spiritual  sub- 
stance of  all  the  previous  shadows  of  the  law  state.  And  by 
the  arising  of  this  Sun  of  Righteousness  in  the  soul,  all 
shadows  flee  away  and  come  to  an  end  ;  and  the  soul  presses 
forward,  under  its  divine  influence,  into  that,  that  is  within  the 
veil,  where  our  forerunner,  even  Jesus,  has  entered  for  us, 
showing  us  the  way  into  the  holiest  of  holies :  as  is  typed 
forth  by  Moses  in  the  tabernacle  he  set  up  in  the  wilderness, 
as  commanded  by  the  Lord,  into  which  holy  place,  none  were 
to  enter,  but  the  Lord's  priests.  But  that  is  taken  away  in 
Christ  or  the  gospel  state,  Avith  the  veil  that  separated  the  peo- 
ple from  the  inner  court,  where  the  Lord  manifests  himself  to 
his  children  face  to  face  by  his  spirit,  which  is  the  dispensa- 
tion of  sonship,  and  fulness  of  the  gospel  state. 


MOSES    PENNOCK.  207 

Thus  far  I  have  felt  a  hberty  to  give  thee  my  views  m  an- 
swer to  the  queries  proposed  by  thee ;  and  in  that  love  that 
breathes  peace  on  earth  and  good  will  to  all  men,  1  subscribe 
thy  sincere  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  8ih  mo.  2d,  1827. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

I  feel  myself  indebted  to  thee  for  two  very  acceptable  letters, 
which  1  have  not  answered,  and  although  I  have  now  taken 
my  pen  with  a  view  to  attempt  a  reply,  yet,  I  feel  so  little  to 
communicate  that  will,  in  any  wise,  be  interesting  to  thee,  that 
I  am  almost  ready  to  despair  of  going  forward.  But  consider- 
ing the  particular  satisfaction  I  take  in  the  reception  of  letters 
from  my  friends,  I  am  encouraged  to  make  the  attempt, 
although  I  should  find  but  little  to  comniunicate. 

I  unite  with  thy  views  in  relation  to  the  doctrines  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  the  abuse  of  them,  as  also  in  relation  to  the  doc- 
trines, precepts  and  example  of  Christ,  who  hath  laid  down  a 
rule  for  his  friends  to  follow  in  his  example  of  perfect  righteous- 
ness. But  it  is  indeed  sorrowful  to  reflect  that  the  general 
body  of  Christendom,  who  profess  to  be  his  followers,  have  so 
lar  deviated  and  gone  counter  to  his  precepts  and  example, 
that  we  can  discover  but  very  little  of  it  in  their  lives  and 
conduct,  very  many  of  them  having  verged  back  to  the  law 
state,  and,  instead  of  worshipping  God  in  spirit  and  in  truth, 
they  have  instituted  a  worship  to  mental  shadows  and  forms, 
by  erecting  in  their  minds  the  appearance  of  the  fleshly  body 
of  Jesus,  and  are  falling  down  to  it  and  worshipping  it,  as 
though  it  was  God,  calling  it  by  that  exalted  title.  And  what 
makes  it  tlie  more  grievously  aflecting  is,  that  many  of  tlte 
leading  characters  of  our  favoured  Societ}',  have  gone  back 
into  the  same  error,  until  darkness  has  clouded  their  minds. 

In  regard  to  the  movements  of  my  friends  in  Philadelphia  and 


208  LETTER    TO 

adjacent  parts,  I  feel  nothing  but  peace  and  quietness  when  I 
look  towards  them,  for,  I  trust,  I  feel  them  in  that  love  that 
casts  out  all  fear,  but  I  have  not,  as  yet,  found  it  my  place 
actively  to  put  a  hand  to  it.  As  nothing  but  the  internal  evi- 
dence and  power  of  divine  truth,  inwardly  revealed,  will  be 
sufficient  to  carry  on  and  effect  the  arduous  undertaking,  let 
all  dwell  low  in  the  life  and  in  the  light  that  makes  all  things 
manifest :  for  in  the  hfe  and  light,  which  is  one,  there  is  power 
to  effect  all  its  oAvn  purposes.  And,  my  dear  Friends  who 
have  been  driven,  from  necessity,  to  adopt  means  for  the  pre- 
servation and  peace  of  Society,  I  conceive  have  nothing  to 
fear,  as  they  keep  low  in  the  principle  of  divine  love  and 
light,  that  has  ever  been  the  rock  and  foundation  of  the 
righteous  in  all  the  preceding  ages,  and  will  ever  continue  the 
same  through  all  the  succeeding  ages,  as  they  move  forward 
when  it  opens  the  way,  and  stand  still,  when  it  stands  still, 
in  the  all-conquering  patience  of  our  blessed  pattern.  In  this 
state  they  will  be  brought  to  experience  the  salvation  of  God, 
and  have  cause  to  rejoice  on  the  banks  of  deliverance. 

Thy  affectionate  friend  and  brother  in  the  fellowship  of  the 
gospel. 

ELLIS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    WHARTON,    PHILADELPHIA. 

Jericho,  Will  mo.  \2th,  1827. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

Althougii  I  feel  but  little  to  communicate,  yei  as  I  have  so 
convenient  an  opportunity  to  convey  a  few  lines  to  thee,  by 
my  son  in  law  V.  H.,  who  is  about  setthig  out  this  morning 
for  y-our  city,  I  was  not  willing  to  let  it  pass  without  improv- 
ing it,  so  far  as  just  to  inform  thee  I  am  still  in  the  body,  and 
in  the  enjoyment  of  a  full  share  of  health  and  peace  of  mind  ; 
which  favour  I  ascribe  to  the  unmerited  mercy  of  our  gracious 
and  benevolent  Creator  and  Preserver,  whose  mercy  is  over 
ail  his  works,  and  who  is  dealing  out  to  all,  severally  as  he 


WILLIAM    WHARTON.  209 

will,  in  his  infinite  wisdom  and  justice,  with  an  eqnal  hand. 
And  although  my  health  of  body,  and  ability  to  move  about, 
are  beyond  what  is  common  with  men  in  such  an  advanced 
state  of  life,  y.et  I  feel  a  steady  decay  in  both  respects,  which  I 
account  as  a  favour  from  my  gracious  Lord,  who  is  paving  the 
way,  by  daily  slight  or  moderate  pains  of  body,  to  make  the 
pa.ssage  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  so  tolerable, 
as  not  to  interrupt  the  mind  in  its  progress  heaven-ward,  and 
it  makes  death  to  the  body  as  a  mere  shadow  indeed  to  the 
upright  in  heart ;  which  often  inspires  the  grateful  mind  with 
this  acclamation  :  What  shall  we  render  unto  the  Lord  for  all 
his  benefits  !  for  his  mercies  are  new  every  morning  and  his 
foithfulness  every  night ;  as  he  guards  his  devoted  children 
by  the  angel  of  his  presence  through  darkness  and  the  shadow 
of  death,  to  the  glory  and  praise  of  his  ever  blessed  name. 

I  was  pleased  to  find,  by  thy  letter,  that  you  were  getting 
along  in  youf  religious  engagements  so  favourably,  and  that 
you  had  in  your  meetings  frequent  evidences  of  the  Divine 
approbation.  And  I  have  no  doubt  but,  as  Friends  steadily 
endeavour  to  dwell  low  in  the  innocent  life,  keeping  a  single 
eye  to  the  Divine  Monitor,  that  grace,  mercy,  and  peace,  will 
be  witli  them,  and  no  weapon  formed  against  them  will  be 
permitted  to  prosper.  But  the  spirit  of  opposition,  that  is  sow- 
ing discord  and  contention,  will  be  confounded  in  its  own 
work  of  darkness. 

Please  present  my  love  to  thy  dear  Deborah  and  children ; 
to  thy  father  Fisher  and  family,  and  to  all  inquiring  friends  in 
thy  freedom,  as  though  named  ;    and  with  a  large  share  to 
thyself,  in  which  my  wife  and  children  present  unite, 
I  subscribe  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELL^S  HICKS. 


ar 


210  LETTER   TO 

TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  •Imn.o.  29th,  lS2a 
Mt  Dear  Friend, 

In  looking  over  my  letters  I  found  I  was  indebted  to  thee 
for  two  very  acceptable  ones,  the  latter  of  which  was  dated 
12th  mo.  24th,  since  when  I  have  been,  the  greater  part  of 
the  time,  disqualified  for  writing  by  the  accidental  bite  of  a 
cat.  But  within  three  or  four  days  past  I  have  ventured  to  set 
pen  to  paper,  to  answer  some  of  my  friends'  letters,  having 
received  a  number  during  my  illness.  And  although  I  feel  but 
little  ability,  either  of  body  or  mind,  to  write  any  thing  that 
Mali  be  very  interesting  to  my  friends,  yet  as  thou  hast  heard 
of  my  being  hurt,  and  as  many  reports  have  been  spread 
abroad  respecting  it,  and  some  pretty  much  exaggerated,  I 
apprehended  thou  wouldst  be  willing  to  hear  the  present  state 
of  the  case.  And  although  my  hand,  that  was  hurt,  is  still 
lame  and  almost  useless  as  to  any  manual  exercise,  yet,  the 
inflammation  and  swelling  is  pretty  much  subsided,  and  is  free 
from  pain,  so  as  to  let  me  rest  pretty  well  through  the  night,  and 
is  in  a  good  way  of  recovery,  although  it  progresses  but  slowly. 
And  altliough  the  dispensation  has  been  aiflictive  to  the  body, 
yet  it  has  been  a  season  of  instruction  and  real  profit  to  the 
mind,  by  which  it  is  inspired  with  humility  to  thank  God  for 
all  his  wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  *men,  and  to  take 
courage  to  persevere  in  the  way  of  Avell  doing. 
I  rest  thy  affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    JOHN    C.    SANDERS,    OHIO. 

Jericho,  3d  mo.  23th,  1828. 
Dear  Friend, 

Thy  letter  of  the  10th  instant  was  duly  received,  and  its 
contents  have  been  considered,     I  very  often  have  letters  of 


JOHN    C.    SANDERS.  211 

the  same  import,  and  I  am  as  often  led  to  marvel  why  any- 
rational  being  should  be  at  a  loss  about  the  right  way  of  sal- 
vation, as  it  is  the  plainest  and  easiest  way  ever  cast  up  for 
reasonable  beings  to  walk  in ;  even  so  plain,  that  the  way- 
faring man,  though  a  fool,  a.^  to  the  wisdom  and  science  of 
this  world,  cannot  err  in  it.  For  the  truth  of  which  I  dare 
appeal  to  the  whole  race  of  mankind  that  dwell  on  the  face  of 
the  earth.  Did  thou  ever  meet  with  a  man  that  was  rational, 
however  wicked  and  ungodly,  but  who  had  a  consciousness 
of  what  was  good  and  what  was  evil,  without  going  to  men  or 
books  for  a  solution?  Is  not  this  a  plain  way,  a  sure  way, 
and  the  only  way  worthy  of  the  Divine  character,  who  is  an 
omnipotent,  omniscient,  and  omnipresent  Being.  And  none 
know  this  plain  way,  but  those  who  know  this  Being  for 
themselves,  without  priest  or  book.  For  not  all  the  books 
ever  written,  nor  all  the  external  miracles  recorded  in  the 
Scriptures,  nor  all  other  external  evidence  of  what  kind 
soever,  has  ever  revealed  God,  who  is  an  eternal  invisible 
Spirit,  to  any  one  of  the  children  of  men. 

This  truth  is  fully  established  by  his  son  Jesus  Christ,  when 
he  interrogated  his  disciples  on  this  wise  :  "  Whom  say  ye 
that  I  the  son  of  man  am  ?"  Peter  answered,  "  Thou  art 
Christ,  the  son  of  the  living  God."  And  what  was  his  answer 
to  Peter  7  It  was  on  this  wise  :  "  Blessed  art  thou  Simon 
bar- Jonah,  for  flesh  and  blood  hath  not  revealed  it  unto  thee, 
but  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  And  upon  this  rock," 
that  is,  this  revelation  of  my  Father,  "I  will  build  my 
church,  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it." 
And  how  does  God  reveal  himself  to  men?  Not  by  Jesus 
Christ  whom  the  Jews  crucified  ;  for  had  Jesus  been  able  to 
reveal  God  he  certainly  would  have  done  it.  But  it  required 
the  immediate  revelation  of  the  Spirit  of  God  to  reveal  Jesus 
to  them  as  being  their  promised  Messiah,  By  this  it  appears, 
that  nothing  but  God's  onmipresence  can,  or  ever  did,  reveal 
him,  savingly,  to  any  man. 

The  Scriptures  bear  full  testimony  to  this  truth,  that  "  in 
him  Ave  live,  move,  and  have  our  being."     But  people,  in  their 


212  LETTER  TO 

natural  estate,  do  not  love  this  intimate  knowledge  of  God,  as 
it  requires  our  dying  to  self,  and  all  our  selfish  inclinations. 
1  will  appeal  to  thy  own  experience,  did  thou  ever  do  a  bad 
act,  knowing  it  to  be  so,  without  feeling  immediate  conviction 
and  reproof?  and  did  thou  ever  do  a  good  act  without  feeling 
thyself  justified,  and  at  peace?  Hereby  God's  omnipresence 
15  established,  as  there  is  no  other  principle,  in  heaven  or 
earth,  that  would  act  such  a  part  toward  man  ;  as  "  there  is 
none  good  but  one,  and  that  is  God." 

As  to  the  paragraph  thou  hast  transcribed  from  one  of  my 
public  communications,  published  by  the  stenographer,  which 
created  a  difficulty  in  thy  mind  in"  regard  to  its  correctness, 
and  which  some  of  my  opposers  make  a  handle  of  to  vilify 
my  character,  if  rightly  considered,  it  would  be  plain  and  clear 
to  every  rational  mind.  For  the  infinitely  wise  and  perfect 
God,  in  creation,  has  seen  fit  to  make  man  a  rational  being, 
hence  all  his  communications  and  revelations  to  him,  must 
and  will  be  rational,  and  in  a  way  to  be  rationally  understood. 
And  as  we  are  all  made  for  the  same  glorious  end  and  pur- 
pose, to  glorify  and  enjoy  him,  and  as  we  come  into  the  world 
free  from  all  pollution,  innocent,  but  without  knowledge,  yet 
endued  with  a  capacity  and  propensity  to  seek  and  obtain  it, 
so  the  way  is  made  plain  by  which  only  true  knowledge  can 
be  obtained,  which  is  by  obedience  to  the  manifested  will  of 
the  Creator.  But  he  did  not  see  fit  to  fix  man  in  that  state  of 
innocence,  as  it  would  have  been  a  state  of  bondage,  therefore 
he  placed  him  in  a  state  of  freedom,  and  gave  him  the  power 
of  choosing  his  own  way,  but  not  without  informing  him  of 
the  danger  of  a  wrong  choice.  But  nian,  through  the  excite- 
ment of  a  desire  after  knowledge,  turned  aside  from  the  divine 
command,  and  lost  his  standing  in  the  favour  of  the  Creator 
by  rebelling  against  his  will.  And  this  has  been  the  lot  of 
every  transgressor  ;  and  as  all  know  by  what  means  they 
have  fallen,  so  they  likewise  know  the  way  of  return.  For. 
as  by  disobedience  to  divine  command,  sin  entered  into  the 
world,  and  death  by  sin,  so  by  our  obedience  to  divine  com- 
mand, life  and  immortality  are  brought  to  light  by  the  Gospel. 


JOHN    C.    SANDERS.  213 

Hence,  the  just  and  holy  God  deals  out  and  dispenses  to  his 
rational  children  with  an  equal  hand,  to  every  one  according 
to  their  several  abilities  ;  to  one  he  gives  five  talents,  to 
another  two,  and  to  another  one.  And  where  much  is  given 
much  is  required,  and  where  less  is  given  less  is  required ;  but 
always  in  a  perfect  and  equal  way,  without  respect  of  persons. 
And  although  Jesus,  the  great  prophet  and  messiah  of  Israel, 
went  far  before  the  former  prophets,  and  had  a  greater  power 
given  him,  as  he  had  a  greater  work  to  perform,  yet  it  must 
have  been  just  and  equal  in  proportion  to  what  was  dispensed 
to  others ;  for  if  otherwise  he  could  be  no  example  to  them 
that  follow  after :  for  if  the  one  talented  servant  had  been  as 
faithful  in  the  improvement  of  his  talent  as  the  five  talented 
one,  his  example  would  have  been  equally  as  good. 

As  to  original  sin,  according  to  the  acceptation  of  some 
professors  of  Christianity,  that  we  are  under  the  curse  for  the 
transgression  of  our  first  parents,  I  abhor  the  idea,  as  it  casts 
a  great  indignity  on  the  divine  character,  to  think  that  a  gra- 
cious and  merciful  God  should  condemn  us  for  an  act  that 
was  wholly  out  of  our  power  to  avoid  !  I  consider  it  very 
little  short,  if  any,  of  blasphemy  against  God.  For  I  have 
never  felt  myself  under  condenmation  for  any  sin  but  my  own, 
neither  have  I  felt  any  justification  for  any  righteousness  but 
what  has  been  wrought  in  me  b)?"  the  grace  of  God  ;  believing 
with  the  apostle  that  "  by  grace  we  are  saved,  through  faith, 
and  that  not  of  ourselves,  it  is  the  gift  of  God ;  not  of  works 
lest  any  man  should  boast ;"  that  is,  not  any  works  of  our 
own  ;  "  for  we  are  his  workmanship  created  in  Christ  Jesus 
unto  good  works,  which  God  hath  before  ordained  that  we 
should  walk  in  them."  Hereby  we  discover,  as  also  from  the 
very  reason  and  nature  of  things,  the  incorrectness  and  absur- 
dity of  the  doctrine  of  unconditional  and  personal  election  and 
reprobation,  as  held  by  some  professors  of  Christianity,  by 
which  they  exceedingly  derogate  from  the  excellence  and 
perfection  of  the  divine  character,  and  accuse  God  of  being  a 
partial  Beina:,  a  respecter  of  persons. 

But  it  is  perfectly  consistent  with  truth,  and  the  reason  and 


214  LETTER    TO 

nature  of  thing's,  that  as  God  is  the  only  good,  so  he  never 
does  nor  can,  according  to  his  own  unchangeable  nature  and 
essence,  command  or  ordain  any  other  than  good  works,  for 
his  rational  children  to  walk  in.  He  has  set  them  at  liberty 
to  make  their  own  election,  to  good  or  evil  works,  as  is  self- 
evidently  manifested  by  the  acts  and  doings  of  all  the  children 
of  men.  And  this  is  the  rule  Jesus  gave  to  Jiis  disciples  :  "By 
their  works  or  fruits  ye  shall  know  them."  And  it  is  only 
those  who  choose  the  good  and  refuse  the  evil,  that  God 
accepts-  as  his  children,  and  these  only  he  qualifies  as  his 
messengers  to  mankind,  as  saith  the  Psalmist  concerning  the 
great  Prophet  and  Messiah  of  Israel.  For  he  had  to  make 
his  choice,  like  the  rest  of  mankind,  being  tried  and  proved  as 
we  are ;  therefore  David  says,  and  gives  this  reason  for  his 
exaltation,  "  Thou  hast  loved  righteousness,  and  hated  wicked- 
ness, therefore  God,  even  thy  God,  hath  anointed  thee  with 
the  oil  of  gladness  above  thy  fellows."  Hence  it  appears,  that 
all  his  exaltation  emanated  from  his  obedience  and  faithfulness 
to  the  manifested  will  of  his  Heavenly  Father.  This  he  learned 
by  the  suflerings  that  fell  to  his  lot,  like  other  men,  as  the 
Scriptures  declare,  Hebrews  v.  8,  "  Though  he  were  a  son, 
yet  learned  he  obedience  by  the  things  which  he  suffered." 
Hence  we  see.  that  the  ways  of  God  to  man  are  all  equal : 
which  is  also  declared  by  the  prophet  Ezekiel,  chap,  xviii.  in 
a  full  and  clear  manner.  And  abundance  more  plain  Scrip- 
ture testimonies  might  be  produced,  to  show  the  correctness 
of  the  paragraph  thou  hast  quoted  •  but  what  are  already 
noted  may  be  sufficient  for  thy  satisfaction,  and  that  of  all 
others  who  are  honestly  disposed  to  seek  after  truth,  freed  from 
the  prejudice  of  tradition  and  education,  those  fetters  of  the 
human  mind. 

I  will  now  conclude,  having  wrote  much  more  than  I  anti- 
cipated when  I  first  took  my  pen  ;  and  if  what  is  written  does 
not  satisfy  thee,  it  maybe,  if  we  are  favoured  to  live,  and  have 
our  health  a  few  months  longer,  we  may  be  permitted  to  speak 
face  to  face,  to  our  mutual  satisfaction.  In  which  view  I  sub- 
scribe thy  sincere  friend.  ELLAS  HICKS. 


CHARLES    STOKES.  215 

TO    CHARLES    STOKES.    R  A  N  C  O  C  A  S,    K.   J. 

New  York,  4th  vio.  M,  1829. 
Dear  Friend, 

Tliy  acceptable  letter  of  2d  month  last  was  duly  received, 
and  its  contents  have  been  considered  ; ,  and  although  I  appre- 
hend there  is  enough  already  in  print  of  my  own  clear  testi- 
mony, and  spread  before  the  public  throughout  most  parts  of 
the  United  States,  in  my  communications  and  letters,  some 
published  by  my  consent  and  some  by  my  opposers,  to  answer 
and  confute  all  those  several  matters  and  charges  specified  by 
thee ;  yet  inasmuch  as  thou  desirest  to  have  a  clear  statement 
in  relation  to  those  subjects  noted  in  th}'  letter,  take  it  as  fol- 
loAvs  : — 

First.  As  to  the  Scriptures  of  truth,  as  recorded  in  the  book 
called  the  Bible,  I  have  Gxex  believed  that  all  parts  of  them, 
that  could  not  be  known  but  by  revelation,  were  written  by 
holy  men  as  they  were  inspired  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  could 
not  be  known  through  any  other  medium  ;  and  they  are  pro- 
fitable for  our  encouragement,  comfort,  and  instruction,  in  the 
very  way  that  the  apostle  Paul  testifies ;  and  I  have  always 
accounted  them,  when  rightly  understood,  as  the  best  of  books 
extant.  I  have  always  delighted  in  reading  them,  in  m^' 
serious  moments,  in  preference  to  any  other  book,  from  my 
youth  up,  and  have  made  more  use  of  tlieir  contents  to  con- 
firm and  establish  my  ministeriaf  labours  in  the  gospel,  than 
most  other  ministers  that  I  am  acquainted  with.  But  at  the 
same  time,  I  prize  that  from  whence  they  have  derived  their 
origin,  much  higher  than  I  do  them ;  as  "  that  for  which  a 
thing  is  such,  the  thing  itself  is  more  such."  And  no  man,  1 
conceive,  can  know  or  rightly  profit  by  them,  but  by  the  open- 
ing of  the  same  inspiring  spirit,  by  which  they  were  written, 
and,  I  apprehend,  I  have  read  them  as  much  as  most  other 
men,  and  few,  I  believe,  have  derived  more  profit  from  them 
than  I  have. 

Secondly.  I  have  always  believed,  smce  I  have  been  a  man 


216  LETTER    TO 

and  reflected  on  the  subject,  in  the  miraculous  conception  of 
Jesus,  as  far  as  history  can  give  behef ;  and  no  man,  I  con- 
ceive, is  possessed  of  a  higher  belief.  And,  as  to  his  divinity. 
I  am  fully  convinced  that  he  was  truly  the  son  of  God,  and 
that  he  could  not  be  so,  unless  he  fully  partook  of  the  very 
nature,  spirit,  likeness,  and  divinity  of  his  heavenly  Father. 
As  in  the  moral  relation  none  can  be  a  proper  son  of  man  un- 
less, he  fully  partake  of  the  very  nature,  spirit,  image,  and  like- 
ness of  his  Father.  That  his  mission,  as  the  last  and  great- 
est prophet  of  the  law  state,  was,  first  to  fulfil  the  righteous- 
ness of  that  shadowy  covenant,  and  thereby  abolish  it  and  all 
its  outward  ordinances,  and  by  which  he  was  prepared  to 
receive  additional  power  from  on  high ;  as  the  Scriptures 
assure  us,  that  when  he  came  up  out  of  John's  watery  bap- 
tism, the  last  institute  of  that  dispensation,  the  Holy  Ghosts 
descended  upon  him,  and  a  voice  from  heaven  was  heard  to 
say,  "  This  is  my  beloved  son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased." 
He  now  witnessed -the  fulness  of  the  spiritual  birth,  and  was 
thereby  qualified  to  enter  upon  his  gospel  missio^i,  and  usher 
in  the  new  covenant,  prophesied  of  long  before  by  the  prophet 
Jeremy,  being  the  son  of  God,  with  power  according  to  the 
spirit  of  holiness ;  by  which  he  went  far  before  all  the  former 
prophets. 

As  to  the  disposition  of  his  body  of  flesh,  I  consider  it  a 
secret  fhat  infinite  wisdom  hath  seen  fit  to  hide  from  man,  as 
he  did  the  bodies  of  Moses  and  Elijah,  lest' some  of  their 
admiring  followers  should  idolize  them.  One  thing  the  Sci'ip- 
tures  assure  us,  and  which  I  fully  believe,  that  "  flesh  and 
blood  cannot  enter  the  kingdom  of  God."  And  Jesus  fully 
confirms  this  view  when  he  told  Nicodemus,  "  that  which  is 
born  of  the  flesh  is  flesh,  and  that  which  is  born  of  the  spirit 
is  spirit."  As  to  heaven  and  hell,  and  the  devil,  I  am  aston- 
ished to  think  that  any,  even  though  of  small  experience, 
should  not  have  a  real  knowledge  of  them.  Does  not  heaven 
signify  a  joyful  state  to  the  soul,  and  hell  a  state  of  torment  ? 
And  docs  not  the  presence  of  God  by  his  spirit,  either  by  justi- 
fying or  condemning  us,  always  produce  one  of  these   tu'o 


CHARLES    STOKES.  •  217 

states,  according  to  our  obedience  or  disobedience  to  the  divine 
requirings  ?  I  am  fully  persuaded  I  was  a  witness  to  these 
things  before  I  was  twelve  years  of  age,  and,  therefore,  I  con- 
sider that  the  torment  of  a  soul  separated  from  God,  by  sin 
and  transgression,  far  exceeds  what  the  Scriptures  make  use 
of  as  a  figure  thereof,  mider  the  similitude  of  a  body  cast  into 
a  lake  of  fire  and  brimstone.  But  we  cannot  suppose  that 
external  fire  and  brimstone  can  have  any  effect  on  an  immor- 
tal spirit ;  and  the  Psalmist  clearly  justifies  this  view  in  his 
appeal  to  the  Almighty.  "If,"  says  he,  "I  ascend  up  into 
heaven,  thou  art  there  ;  if  I  make  my  bed  in  hell,  behold  thou 
art  there,"  &c.  Here  we  see  that  his  presence  constitutes  the 
state  and  condition  of  every  immortal  soul,  according  to  their 
obedience  or  disobedience  to  the  requirings  of  his  holy  spirit,  a 
manifestation  whereof  is  given  to  every  rational,  accountable 
being  to  profit  withal ;  by  which  all  are  made  to  know  his  will 
concerning  them,  unless  they  are  wilfully  blind. 

And  as  to  what  is  called  a  devil  or  Satan,  it  is  something 
within  us,  that  tempts  us  to  go  counter  to  the  commands  of 
God,  and  our  duty  to  him  and  our  fellow  creatures ;  and  the 
Scriptures  tell  us  there  are  many  of  them,  and  that  Jesus  cast 
seven  out  of  one  woman.  And  I  remember  hearing,  in  my 
young  years,  a  very  able  and  fully  approved  minister,  among 
Friends,  give  his  explanation  of  that  portion  of  Scripture.  He 
said  that  the  evilsshehad  fallen  into  were  caused  by  an  unlawful 
indulgence  of  the  propensities  of  our  common  nature,  as  pro- 
bationary creatures  ;  which,  although  necessary  and  useful  in 
their  place,  when  indulged  beyond  the  bounds  of  reason  and 
truth,  produce  sin.  And  I  should  suppose  that  every  man 
of  common  understanding,  by  a  proper  introversion  into  him- 
self, would  immediately  discover,  that  he  was  never  tempted 
to  any  evil,  but  through  one  or  other  of  the  propensities  and 
desires  of  his  common  nature,  as  an  accountable  being,  and 
that  those  propensities  and  desires,  while  kept  under  the  dis- 
cipline of  the  cross  of  Christ,  which  is  God's  law  written,  as 
the  Scriptures  declare,  on  the  tablets  of  our  hearts,  were  all 
ministers  of  good  to  man,  and  qualified  him  rightly  to  answer 

28 


218  LETTER    TO 

the  end  of  his  creation.  For  without  these  propensities  and 
desires,  man  would  be  a  dormant,  inactive  creature ;  as  he 
would  have  nothing  to  excite  him  to  action,  to  procure  those 
things  necessary  to  preserve  his  life,  or  to  seek  after  an  attain- 
ment in  true  knowledge,  sufficient  to  introduce  him  into  the 
knowledge  of  his  Creator,  and  prepare  him  to  be  a  communi- 
cant with  him  in  the  realms  of  blessedness,  when  done  with 
time  here  on  earth. 

Can  it  be  possibly  necessary  for  me  to  add  any  thing  fur- 
ther, to  manifest  my  full  and  entire  belief  of  the  immortality 
of  the  soul  of  man  ?  Surely,  what  an  ignorant  creature  must 
that  man  be,  that  hath  not  come  to  the  clear  and  full  know- 
ledge of  that  in  himself.  Does  not  every  man  feel  a  desire 
fixed  in  his  very  nature  after  happiness,  that  urges  him  on  in 
a  steady  pursuit  after  something  to  satisfy  this  desire,  and 
does  he  not  find,  that  all  the  riches,  and  honour,  and  glory  of 
this  world,  together  with  every  thing  that  is  mortal,  falls  infi- 
nitely short  of  satisfying  this  desire  ;  which  proves  it  to  be 
immortal ;  and  can  any  thing,  or  being,  that  is  not  immortal 
in  itself,  receive  the  impress  of  an  immortal  desire  upon  it  ? 
Surely  not.  Therefore,  this  immortal  desire  of  the  soul  of 
man,  never  can  be  fully  satisfied,  until  it  comes  to  be  estab- 
lished in  a  state  of  immortality  and  eternal  life,  beyond  the 
grave. 

On  my  return  to  the  bosom  of  my  dear  family  and  friends 
at  home ;  although  under  the  severe  operation  of  the  cold  I 
took  in  Jersey,  that  confined  me  to  the  house  for  several 
weeks  ;  nevertheless,  such  was  the  unsullied  joy  and  peace  of 
mind  1  witnessed,  in  a  retrospective  view  of  my  late  journey 
to  the  west  among  my  friends,  and  the  unmerited  favours  dis- 
pensed to  me  through  the  whole  arduous  labour,  for  the  pro- 
motion of  the  noble  cause  of  truth  and  righteousness  in  the 
earth,  that  a  view  of  it  inspires  my  whole  man  with  humility, 
thanksgiving  and  gratitude,  to  the  blessed  Author  of  all  our 
sure  mercies,  who  is  over  all  worthy  for  .ever.  Add  to  that 
the  sweet  communion  with  my  much  beloved  wife  and  chil- 
dren, I  humbly  considered  a  comfort  and  felicity  far  beyond 


CHARLES    STOKES.  219 

my  deserts.  But,  alas !  how  fleeting  and  uncertain  are  all 
our  joys  that  rest  on  terrestrial  objects  ;  for  as  soon,  almost,  as 
I  had  pretty  well  recovered  from  my  bodily  indisposition,  and 
in  the  full  enjoyment  of  the  endeared  embraces  of  my  beloved 
companion,  she  was  taken  from  me.* 

And  as  nothing  further  has  transpired  of  late  worthy  of 
particular  notice  I  will  now  draw  to  a  close. 
I  subscribe  thy  sincere  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    WILLIAM    POOLE,    WILMINGTON. 

Shrewsbury,  bih  mo.  I9th,  1829. 
My  Dear  Friend, 

The  long  interruption  of  our  mutual  and  friendly  corres- 
pondence has  not  arisen  on  my  part  from  any  diminution  of 
that  sincere  love  and  regard  that  has  subsisted  between  us 
from  the  time  of  our  first  acquaintance,  but  from  causes  over 
which  I  had  no  control.  For  when  I  returned  from  my  ardu- 
ous western  journey,  and  was  initiated  again  in  the  bosom  of 
my  dear  family,  I  was  under  the  pi-essure  of  a  severe  cold,  which 
laid  me  up,  and  for  a  number  of  weeks,  disqualified  me  for 
writing. 

Soon  after  I  had  in  some  degree  recovered  my  usual  state 
of  bodily  ability,  my  dear  and  mi«ch  beloved  wife  was  taken 
down  with  a  cold,  and  although  for  a  number  of  days  we  had 
no  anticipation  of  danger  from  her  complaint,  thinking  it  most 
likely  in  a  few  days,  she  would  again  be  restored  to  her  usual 
health,  which  she  had  been  favoured  with  during  my  absence, 
yet,  about  five  days  after  she  was  taken,  the  disorder  appeared 
to  settle  on  her  lungs,  and  brought  on  an  inflammation  which 
termmated  in  a  dissolutiojj  of  her  precious  life,  on  the  ninth 
day  from  the  time  she  was  first  taken  ill.     She  had  but  little 

*  The  remaining  part  of  this  letter  gives  an  account  of  the  last  sickness  and 
death  of  his  ■wife,  but  as  a  narrative  of  this  event  is  contained  in  the  letter  imme- 
diately following,  to  William  Poole,  it  is  here  omitted. 


220  LETTER    TO  ' 

bodily  pain,  3^ct.  as  slie  weakened  doMai,  slie  suffered  through 
shortness  of  breath  ;  but  before  her  close,  she  became  perfectly 
tranquil  and  easy,  and  passed  away  like  a  lamb,  as  though 
entering  into  a  sweet  sleep,  without  sigh  or  groan,  or  the  least 
possible  bodily  emotion,  and  her  precious  spirit,  I  trust  and 
believe,  has  landed  safely  on  the  angelic  shore,  "  where  the 
wicked"  and  all  opposing  spirits  "  cease  from  troubling,  and 
where  the  weary  are  at  rest." 

To  myself  and  family,  in  the  relation  she  stood  to  us  as  a 
faithful  and  truly  loving  wife,  and  a  tender  and  affectionate 
mother  to  our  children,  instructing  them  in  the  path  of  virtue, 
by  precept  and  example,  endeavouring  to  guard  them  and 
keep  them  out  of  harm's  way,  this  is  a  great  and  irreparable 
loss,  and  nothing  is  left  to  console  us  on  that  behalf,  but  a 
confident  belief  and  an  unshaken  hope  that  our  great  loss  is 
her  still  greater  gain. 

And  although  the  loss  and  the  trial  as  to  all  my  external 
blessings,  are  the  greatest  I  have  ever  met  with,  or  1  ever  shall 
have  to  endure,  yet  I  have  a  hope,  that  through  Divine  aid,  I 
may  be  preserved  from  murmuring  or  complaining,  and  that  I 
may  continually  keep  in  view  the  unmerited  favour,  dispensed 
to  us,  by  being  preserved  together  fifty-eight  years,  in  an  un- 
broken bond  of  endeared  affection,  which  seemed,  if  possible, 
to  mcrease  with  time  to  the  last  moment  of  her  life,  and  Avhich 
neither  time  nor  distance  can  lessen  or  dissolve ;  but  in  the 
spiritual  relation  I  trust  it. will  endure  for  ever,  where  all  the 
Lord's  redeemed  children  are  one  in  him,  who  is  God  over  all, 
in  all,  and  through  all,  blessed  for  ever, 

I  am  now  here  attending  the  quarterly  meeting  of  Shrews- 
bury and  Rahway,  which  closes  to-day,  and  we  propose  to 
return  to  New  York  to-morrow.  My  daughter  Elizabeth  is 
here,  and  unites  with  me  in  love  to  you  all,  which  is  the 
same  as  ever,  and  in  which  I  conclude  and  subscribe  thy 
affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


BENJAMIN    FERRIS.  221 

TO    BENJAMIN    FERRIS,    WILMINGTON. 

Jericho,  Glh  mo.  I7th,  1S29. 
Mv  Dear  Fhiend, 

Thy  very  acceptable  letter  of  5th  month  last  was  duly 
received,  and  the  very  comfortable  and  interesting  account  it 
contained  of  the  life  and  death  of  our  \^ery  dear  and  mutual 
friend,  William  Poole,  was  truly  grateful.  His  departure  will 
cause  a  real  chasm  in  my  most  interesting  correspondence  ;  for 
although  I  have  a  large  circle  of  friends  with  wJiom  I  occa- 
sionally correspond,  yet  with  none,  for  a  great  number  of  years, 
have  I  so  often  corresponded,  as  with  my  dear  friend,  William 
Poole.  Our  social  intercourse  was  such,  that  it  was  almost 
like  near  neighbours ;  and  I  shall  sensibly  feel  a  loss  in  our 
separation.  But  I  have  this  to  console  me, — that  however 
great  the  loss  may  seem,  it  can  be  but  for  a  short  season,"  as  I 
confidently  believe  it  will  redound  to  his  eternal  gain,  and  that 
his  precious  spirit  is  safely  landed  on  the  angelic  shore,  where 
the  wicked,  and  every  opposing  spirit,  will  cease  from  troubling, 
and  the  weary  are  at  rest,  with  a  crown  of  everlasting  joy  upon 
their  heads. 

It  was  cause  of  gladness  to  me,  when  I  heard  the  decease* 
of  dear  AVilliam  announced,  that  I  had  written  him  just  pre- 
vious thereto  ;  as  there  had  been  a  longer  space  of  silence  be- 
tween us,  when  I  last  wrote,  than  usual,  occasioned  on  his  part, 
I  apprehend,  by  his  indisposition  ;  and  on  my  part,  by  the 
transpiring  of  certain  events,  which  tended  to  shut  up  the 
way  very  much  from  writing  to  my  friends.  But  1  felt  tlie 
impression  so  strong  on  my  mind,  when  I  wrote  the  last,  that 
I  could  not  be  easy  to  delay  any  longer. 

We  have  John  Conily  with  us,  visiting  our  meetings,  and 
appointing  some  among  those  not  in  membership  with  us.  He 
is  on  his  way  to  visit  the  meetings  of  Friends  in  Purchase 

*  It  will  be  seen  by  a  reference  to  the  note  accompanying  the  last  letter  of  E.  H., 
which  closes  this  volume,  that  the  aged  and  venerable  writer  closed  his  earthly 
pilgrimage  in  about  eight  months  from  this  period. 


222  LETTER    TO 

quarter.  He  had  made  a  beginning  there  about  two  weeks 
past,  but  was  called  Jiome  on  account  of  the  indisposition  of 
his  wife.  She  being  much  restored,  he  came  on  here  again 
last  seventh  day,  and  expects  to  be  in  New  York  next  first  day. 
My  family  and  friends  hereaway  are  in  usual  health,  except  a 
little  grand-daughter,  that  was  taken  yesterday  with  a  chill, 
followed  with  considerable  fever. 

Please  to  present  my  love  to  thy  dear  wife  and  children,  and 
to  all  inquiring  friends,  particularly  to  the  children  of  my  dear 
departed  friend,  William  Poole,  and  say  to  them  on  my  behalf, 
that  strong  and  fervent  are  my  desires,  that  they  may  walk  in 
his  footsteps,  and  follow  his  virtuous  example  ;  that  so  it  may 
be  said,  instead  of  the  father  there  is  the  children ;  for  I  con- 
fidently believe,  that  nothing  could  have  given  their  dear 
father  greater  joy,  than  to  have  seen  his  children  walking 
in  the  truth. 

Thou  wilt  excuse  the  imperfections  of  the  aboA^e,  as  I  write 
in  haste,  and  have  no  time  to  copy — my  time  being  steadily 
employed  in  making  preparations  for  my  northern  journey,  in 
order  to  finish  the  remaining  part  of  my  religious  concern  in  our 
own  yearly  meeting,  as  expressed  in  my  certificate  of  last  year  ; 
expecting  to  leave  home  on  that  account  a  few  days  hence. 

And  with  a  large  share  of  love  to  thee,  I  subscribe  thy  afiec- 
tionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO    ELIAS    WILBUR,    SARATOGA,    N.  Y. 

Jericho,  \st  mo.  1st,  1830. 
Dear  youxg  Friend, 

Having  thee  in  remembrance  for  several  days  past,  I  was 
induced  to  take  my  pen  and  commune  with  thee  a  little  in  the 
letter  line,  and  give  thee  a  little  sketch  of  our  progress  home- 
ward. After  we  took  leave  of  thy  father's  hospitable  roof, 
and  since  we  parted  with  him  at  Pittstown,  though  we  then 
separated  as  to  the  body,  yet  in  mind  I  often  feel  him  as 


ELIAS    WILBUR. 


223 


thon^h  present,  with  grateful  sensations  for  his  kindness  in 
accompanying  us  in  our  journey  from  plate  to  place,  through 
rough  and  smooth,  with  such  cheerfulness  and  good  will  as 
tended  to  smooth  the  way  before  us  and  made  our  journey 
more  pleasant. 

After  parting  with  tliy  father  at  Pittstown,  we  took  leave  of 
our  friends  there  and  proceeded  directly  to  Troy,  where  we 
arrived  in  good  season.  Here  we  rested  the  next  day,  and 
the  day  following  we  rode  down  to  Thomas  Wright's ;  and 
the  day  after  being  very  stormy  and  my  head  pretty  much 
out  of  order,  we  tarried  there  over  first  day  and  attended  Hud- 
son meeting.  On  second  day  we  proceeded  to  Ninepartners, 
and  after  attending  the  quarterly  meeting  there,  and  that  at 
Stanford,  both  of  which,  I  think,  were  favoured  seasons,  in 
which  the  canopy  of  love  was  spread  over  the  assemblies  to 
the  comfort  and  rejoicing  of  the  honest-hearted,  and  to  their 
edification ;  we  parted  with  them  in  true  peace  of  mind  and 
with  thankful  hearts,  and  proceeded  directly  to  Cornwall, 
where  we  arrived  in  season  to  attend  their  meeting  the  follow- 
ing first  day.  This  was  a  large  and  favoured  opportunity,  the 
people  came  together  freely,  and  appeared  to  go  away  well 
satisfied.  On  second  and  third  days  we  had  appointed  meet- 
ings at  the  lower  and  upper  Clove.  At  the  latter  place.  Friends 
and  those  called  orthodox,  continued  to  meet  together  on  first 
days,  and  word  was  sent  forward  to  a  Friend  of  that  meeting  to 
spread  the  notice  at  the  close  of  their  first  day  meeting,  of  our 
appointment  on  third  day,  which  was  accordingly  done  by 
our  Friend  Wait  Pearsall,  which  raised  the  resentment  of  tlie 
orthodox ;  and  one  of  their  principal  leaders,  as  soon  as  the 
meeting  was  closed,  fell  upon  the  Friend  who  gave  the  notice 
and  asked  him  how  he  dare  give  out  notice  for  me  who  was  a 
Deist,  &c.,  and  had  been  regularly  disowned,  and  that  he  like- 
wise had  been  disowned.  And  two  or  three  of  the  orthodox 
p-ot  about  him  and  assured  him,  that  we  should  not  have  the 
privilege  of  going  into  the  house ;  but  the  Friend  assured  them 
that  he  would  have  the  house  opened.  However,  they 
appeared  determined  that  we  should  not  have  it ;  and  to  pre- 


221  LETTER    TO 

vent  Friends  getting  in,  they  sent  the  key  away  two  miles  off; 
but  before  the  time  of  our  meeting  came  about^  they  took  wit 
in  their  anger,  and  their  chief  man  went  and  got  the  key  and 
opened  the  house  without  giving  Friends  any  farther  trouble, 
and  we  had  a  large  favoured  meeting,  without  any  interrup- 
tion. iVfter  which,  the  next  day,  we  rode  to  New  York. 
Here  we  tarried  until  after  first  day,  and  attended  Friends' 
meetings  as  they  came  in  course ;  at  Hester  Street  on  fifth 
day,  and  Rose  Street  on  first  day  morning,  and  at  Hester  Street 
again  in  the  afternoon.  These  meetijigs  were  large,  especially 
the  two  last,  the  latter  of  which  Friends  thought  contained 
more  people  than  ever  had  been  in  that  house  before,  as  there 
had  been  a  new  arrangement  of  some  of  the  seats  which  had 
made  room  for  a  number  of  seats  to  be  added.  These  were 
all  favoured  seasons,  worthy  of  our  grateful  remembrance. 
On  second  day  evening  we  had  a  large  favoured  meeting  in 
the  town  of  Brooklyn,  which  closed  my  concern  and  crowned 
my  labours  in  the  gospel  among  my  friends  the  two  preceding 
seasons,  with  true  peace  of  mind ;  a  sense  of  which  unmerited 
favours,  inspires  my  heart  with  thanksgiving  and  gratitude  to 
the  blessed  author  of  all  our  sure  mercies,  and  who  remains  to 
be  God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever.  The  next  day  we  proceeded 
homeward,  where  we  arrived  safe  on  fourth  day  afternoon, 
and  found  my  family  and  friends  in  usual  health,  which  I 
considered  an  additional  favour,  and  we  were  made  to  rejoice 
together  under  a  feeling  of  that  love  that  unites  and  makes 
glad  the  whole  heritage  of  God. 

And  what  shall  I  say  to  thee,  my  dear  young  friend,  for 
thy  encouragement  in  the  way  of  well  doing  and  path  of  true 
and  real  virtue.  TI:iou  hast  pious  parents,  who,  no  doubt, 
feel  anxious  for  thy  preservation,  and  who  can  have  no  greater 
joy  than  to  see  their  children  walking  in  the  truth.  Can  I  do 
better  than  to  remind  thee  of  the  counsel  of  that  ijood  man 
David  to  his  son  Solomon,  on  this  wise  :  ''  And  thou  Solomon 
my  son,  know  thou  the  God  of  thy  Father,  and  serve  him 
with  a  perfect  heart  and  a  willing  mind,  for  if  thou  seek  him, 
he  will  be  found  of  thee,  but  if  thou  forsal^e  him.  he  will  cast 


ELIAS    WILBL'R.  **° 


thee  off  for  ever."     And  I  will  add  in  confirmation  of  this 
counsel  of  David,  that  most  excellent  and  perfect  lesson  of  our 
crreat  and  holy  pattern  Jesus  Christ.     "  Seek  first  the  king- 
dom of  God  and  his  righteousness,  and  all  other  things  shal 
be  added;"  because,  every  thing  that  can  be  a  blessmg  and 
real  comfort  to  rational  beings  is  comprehended  m  this  king- 
dom     And  this  kingdom,  Jesus  tells  us  truly,  is  withm  us ; 
and  God  is  ever  in  his  kingdom,  and  none  but  he  has  a  right  to 
hand  out  his  blessings  to  man.     And  as  we  have  no  true  wis- 
dom at  our  command,  therefore  the  apostle  tells  us  where  to 
find  it  "  If  any  lack  wisdom  let  him  ask  it  of  God,  who  giveth 
liberally,  and  upbraideth  not;"  for  indeed,  "blessed  is  the  man 
that  trusteth  in  the  Lord,  and  whose  hope  the  Lord  is." 

Please  present  my  love  affectionately  to  thy  dear  parents, 
and  to  all  inquiring  friends,  as  way  opens  in  thy  freedom; 
and  tell  thy  father  that  a  line  from  him,  giving  some  account 
of  your  fare  since  I  left  you,  will  be  very  acceptable.  And 
may  grace,  mercy,  and  peace,  be  with  thee  and  abound,  and 
then  thou  wilt  be  neither  barren  nor  unfruitful  in  those  things 
that  belong  to  thy  everlasting  peace.    In  love  I  conclude  thy 

^''''''^'  ELIAS  HICKS. 


29 


226  LETTER    TO 

SIX    QUERIES 

PROPOSED    TO    ELIAS    HICKS, 
WITH    HIS   ANSWERS. 


TO    THOMAS     LEGGETT,    JR.    NEW    YORK. 

Jencho,  llih  mo.  16th,  1829. 
Dea-r  Friend, 

Thy  affectionate  letter  I  have  duly  received,  and  its  contents 
were  grateful  to  my  best  feelings,  as  they  appear  to  be  the 
result  of  sincere  friendship.  But  I  may  acknowledge  it  was 
really  marvellous  to  my  mind  to  think  how  it  could  be  possi- 
ble, that  thou,  my  friend,  should  find  any  inducement  to  pro- 
pose to  me  such  questions,  as  are  comprehended  in  thy  first 
four  queries,  as  I  should  suppose  that  no  person  who  lias  had 
the  opportunity  tliou  hast  had,  of  seeing  and  of  hearing  me, 
in  public  and  in  private,  and  who  has  known  my  manner  of 
life  for  more  than  twenty  years,  would  have  given  the  least 
possible  credit  to  any  of  those  irrational  and  false  reports  to 
which  these  queries  allude  ;  and  although  I  consider  them  as 
unworthy  of  my  notice,  yet  friendship  induces  me,  as  thou  hast 
requested  it,  to  make  a  brief  reply  to  them  severally. 

First  Query. — Dost  thou  wish  to  be  understood,  by  any 
thing  thou  may  have  said,  publicly  or  privately,  that  thou 
denies  the  miraculous  conception  of  the  fleshly  body  of  Jesus 
Christ,  or  dost  thou  believe  that  Joseph  was  his  father  ? 

Answer. — I  have  ever  believed  and  asserted,  from  my  youth 
up,  that  I  had  as  full  a  belief  in  the  miraculous  conception  of 
the  fleshly  body  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  it  was  possible  for  the  his- 
tory to  give  belief.  And  I  may  now  a-ssure  thee  that  I  never 
thought  or  said,  that  I  believed  Joseph  was  his  father. 

Second  Query. — Dost  thou  mean  to  be  understood,  by  any 
thing  thou  may  have  said  publicly  or  privately,  that  thou 
denies  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ  ? 

Ansicer. — As  respects  the  divinity  of  Jesus  Christ,  I  appre- 


THOMAS    LEGGETT,    JR.  227 

• 

hend  no  minister  in  the  Society  of  Friends  has  more  often  in 
his  pnbUc  communications  asserted  the  divinity  of  Jesus 
Christ  the  Son  of  God,  than  I  have,  assuring  my  hearers,  that 
he  was  fully  swallowed  up  into  the  divine  nature,  and  complete 
divinity  of  his  heavenly  Father.  But  I  never  believed  that 
Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God,  was  the  father  of  himself  but 
that  he  was  truly  the  Son  of  God,  endued  with  poM^er  from  on 
high,  by  which  he  was  qualified  to  usher  in  and  introduce  the 
new  covenant  dispensation,  as  prophesied  long  before  by  Jere- 
miah the  prophet,  when  all  outward  mediation  should  cease, 
as  the  law  of  God  was  now  to  be  written  on  the  inward  table 
of  the  heart,  and  not  on  tables  of  stone,  or  with  pen,  ink,  and 
paper ;  after  which  no  man  was  to  say  to  his  neighbour  or 
brother,  know  the  Lord,  for  all  shall  know  me  from  the  least  to 
the  greatest.  This  is  the  covenant  that  I  acknowledge,  and  I 
acknowledge  no  other,  and  this  I  consider  the  only  real  gospel 
covenant. 

Third  Query. — Dost  thou  wish  to  be  understood  as  deny- 
ing the  authenticity  of  the  Scriptures  of  truth,  or  as  wishing  to 
undervalue  them ;  or  would  thou  encourage  all  to  the  frequent 
and  diligent  perusal  of  them,  as  being  able,  under  divine  illu- 
mination, to  make  wise  unto  salvation  ? 

Ansv)er.—As  respects  the  Scriptures  of  truth,  I  have  highly 
esteemed  them  from  my  youth  up,  have  always  given  them  the 
preference  to  any  other  book,  and  have  read  them  abundantly, 
more  than  any  other  book,  and  I  would  recommend  all  to  the 
serious  and  diligent  perusal  of  them.  And  I  apprehend  I  have 
received  as  much  comfort  and  instruction  from  them  as  any 
other  man.  Indeed  they  have  instructed  me  home  to  the  sure 
unchangeable  foundation — the  light  within,  or  spirit  of  truth, 
the  only  gospel  foundation,  that  leads  and  guides  into  all  truth, 
and  thereby  completes  man's  salvation  ;  which  nothing  else 
ever  has,  or  ever  can  do.  But  Avhy  need  I  say  these,  things, 
as  all  men  know  that  have  heard  me,  that  I  confirm  my  doc- 
trine abundantly  from  their  testimony:  And  I  have  always 
endeavoured  sincerely  to  place  them  in  their  true  place  and 
station,  but  I  never  dare  exalt  them  above  what  they  them- 


228  LETTER    TO 

selves  declare  ;  and  as  no  spring  can  rise  higher  than  its  foun- 
tain, so  hkewise  the  Scriptures  can  only  direct  to  the  fountain 
from  whence  they  originated — the  spirit  of  truth  :  as  saith  the 
apostle,  "  The  things  of  God  knoweth  no  man,  but  the  spirit 
of  God  j"  therefore  when  the  Scriptures  have  directed  and 
pointed  us  to  this  light  within,  or  spirit  of  truth,  theie  they 
must  stop — it  is  their  ultimatum — the  topstone  of  what  they 
can  do.  And  no  other  external  testimony  of  men  or  books 
can  do  any  more.  And  Jesus  in  his  last  charge  to  his  disci- 
ples, in  order  to  prevent  them  from  looking  without  for  instruc- 
tion, in  the  things  of  God,  after  he  had  led  them  up  to  the 
highest  pinnacle  that  any  outward  evidence  could  effect,  certi- 
tied  them,  that  this  light  within,  or  spirit  of  truth,  by  which 
only  their  salvation  could  be  eifected,  dwelt  with  them,  and 
should  be  in  them.  And  this  every  Christian  knows  to  be  a 
truth  ;  and  there  never  was  a  real  Christian  made  by  any  other 
power  than  this  spirit  of  truth  ;  and  every  thing  that  can  be 
done  by  man  without  it,  must  fail  of  effecting  his  salvation. 

Fourth  Query. — Dost  thou  believe  there  is  no  accounta- 
bility beyond  the  grave,  or  that  there  is  no  state  of  rewards 
and  punishments  after  death  ? 

Answer. — This  charge,  which  I  hear  has  been  made  against 
me,  is  altogether  such  a  barefaced  and  palpable  falsehood,  that 
1  can  hardly  believe  that  any  man  could  be  ignorant  and 
wicked  enough  to  fabricate  such  a  story,  nor  that  any  man 
that  knew  any  thing  about  me  could  give  the  least  possible 
credit  thereto  ;  as  I  have  spent  a  great  portion  of  my  time  in 
travel  and  exercise,  having  travelled  thousands  and  tens  of 
thousands  of  miles,  leaving  behind  me  every  tender  and  sweet 
enjoyment  that  this  life  can  afford,  for  no  other  cause  than  to 
promote  truth  and  righteousness  among  my  friends  and  fellow 
creatures,  that  they  might  be  prepared  to  die,  and  enter  into 
that  eternal  inheritance  prepared  for  the  righteous,  where  the 
wicked  cease  from  troubling,  and  the  weary  are  at  rest ;  fully 
l)elieving  that  every  man  will  reap  the  reward  of  well  done 
good  and  faithful  servant,  or  receive  the  sentence,  depart  from 
me  ye  workers  of  iniquity,  I  know  you  not. 


THOMAS    LEGGETT,  JR.  229 

Fifth  Query. — When  thou  speaks  of  our  coming  up  to  a 
level  with  the  man  Christ  Jesus,  dost  thou  mean  level  in  our 
several  capacities — I  mean  that  the  one  talented  servant,  per- 
fectly occupying  his  one  talent,  is  as  perfect  as  the  five  talented 
servant  perfectly  occupying  his  ? 

Answer. — To  this  I  need  say  but  little,  as  thou  hast  given  a 
correct  solution  of  it.  That  as  God  is  no  respecter  of  persons, 
he  therefore  deals  out  to  all  his  rational  children  with  an  equal 
hand,  as  is  beautifully  set  forth  by  Jesus  in  the  parable  of  the 
talents ;  for  had  the  one  talented  servant  faithfully  employed 
his  one  talent,  and  gained  another,  he  would  have  stood  as 
high  in  his  Lord's  favour,  as  the  five  talented  servant. 

Therefore  as  his  beloved  son  had  a  much  greater  -work  on 
earth  than  any  other  man,  so  he  had  a  much  greater  fulness 
of  the  spirit  than  any  other  man  ;  "  For  he  whom  God  hath 
sent,  speaketh  the  words  of  God :  for  God  giveth  not  the  spirit 
by  measure  unto  him."  John  iii.  34.  I  believe  with  Peter,. 
when  he  thus  expressed  himself,  "  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  a  man 
approved  of  God  among  you  by  miracles,  and  wonders,  and 
signs,  which  God  did  by  him  in  the  niidst  of  you,  as  ye  your- 
selves also  know."     Acts  ii.  22.     And  again, 

"  How  God  anointed  Jesus  of  Nazareth  with  the  Holy 
Ghost  and  with  power ;  who  went  about  doing  good,  and 
healino-  all  who  were  oppressed  with  the  devil :  for  God  was 
with  him."  Acts  x.  38.  This  "  Holy  Ghost  and  power,"  I 
believe  is  the  only  Saviour  that  can  cleanse  the  soul  of  man 
from  sin,  and  give  him  an  inheritance  among  all  them  which 
are  sanctified.* 

Sixth  Qiicry. — What  relation  has  the  body  of  Jesus  to  the 
Saviour  of  man  ?  Dost  thou  believe  that  the  crucifixion  of 
the  outward  body  of  Jesus  Christ  was  an  atonement  for  our 
sins  1 

A??5?6-er.— In  reply  to  the  first  part  of  this  query  I  answer, 
I  believe,  in  unison  with  our  ancient  Friends,  that  it  was  the 
outward  garment,  in  which  he  performed  all  his  mighty  works, 

*  John,  xvii.  21,  22,  23-  1  John,  lii.  1  to  7.  Ephe.  iv.  11,  12,  13.  Rom.  viii.  Mj 
15,  16;  17,  13. 


230  LETTER    TO 

or  as  Paul  liatli  expressed  it,  "  know  ye  not  that  your  body  is 
the  temple  of  the  Holy  Ghost  which  is  in  you ;"  therefore  he 
charged  tlieni  not  to  defile  those  temples.  "What  is  attributed 
to  that  body,  I  acknowledge  and  give  to  that  body,  in  its  place, 
according  as  the  Scripture  attributeth  it,  which  is  through  and 
because  of  that  which  dwelt  and  acted  in  it.  But  that  which 
sanctified  and  kept  the  body  pure,  (and  made  all  acceptable  in 
him,)  was  the  life,  holiness,  and  righteousness  of  tlie  spirit. 
And  the  same  thing  that  kept  his  vessel  pure,  it  is  the  same 
thing  that  cleanseth  us."" 

In  reply  to  the  second  part  of  this  query,  I  would  remark, 
that  I  "  see  no  need  of  directing  men  to  the  type  for  the  anti- 
type, neither  to  the  outward  temple,  nor  yet  to  Jerusalem, 
neither  to  Jesus  Christ  or  his  blood,  [outwardly;]  knowing  that 
neither  the  righteousness  of  faith,  nor  the  word  of  it,  doth  so 
direct."t  "  The  new  and  second  covenant  is  dedicated  with 
the  blood,  the  life  of  Christ  Jesus,  which  is  the  alone  atone- 
ment unto  God,  by  which  all  his  people  are  washed,  sancti- 
fied, cleansed,  and  redeemed  to  God."J 

I  may  add,  it  has  always  been  the  lot  of  the  Lord's  faithful 
servants,  in  every  age  of  the  world,  to  be  cried  out  against,  and 
it  makes  good  the  saying  of  the  apostle.  "  All  that  will  live 
godly  in  Christ  Jesus  shall  suffer  persecution." 

I  conclude  thou  hast  not  given  thyself  the  trouble  to  read 
any  of  my  public  communications,  as  taken  down  by  M.  T. 
C.  Gould,  the  stenographer  ;  as  in  them,  all  objections  are  an- 
swered, in  regard  to  my  belief  and  doctrine : — Readj  volume 
1st,  and  first  communication,  and  a  letter  I  wrote  to  a  Friend 
in  Chester  county,  Penn.,  under  date  7th  mo.  22d,  1827,  in 
answer  to  four  queries  similar  to  thine,  published  I  believe  in 
the  latter  part  of  the  fourth  volume  of  the  same  work. 

With  love  to  thy  dear  wife  and  children,  T  remain  thy  sin- 
cere friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 

*  Isaac  Pennington,  vol.  iii.  p.  34. 

+  Whitehead's  Life  and  Light  of  Christ,  p.  34. 

t  George  Fox's  Doctrinals,  p.  646. 

§  A  wdVk  called  "  the  Q,uaker,"  containing  sermons,  Cue. 


HUGH    JUDGE.  231 

THE 

LAST    LETTER 

OF 

ELI  AS    HICKS; 

WRITTEN    TO    HUGH    JUDGE,    OF    OHIO* 

Jericho,  2th  mo.  Ulh,  1830. 
Dear  Hugh, 

Thy  very  acceptable  letter  of  the  21st  ultimo,  was  duly 
received  and  read  with  interest,  tending  to  excite  renewed 
sympathetic,  and  mutual  fellow-feeling ;  and  brought  to  my 
remembrance  the  cheering  salutation  of  the  blessed  Jesus,  our 
holy  and  perfect  pattern  and  example,  to  his  disciples,  viz. 
"  Be  of  good  cheer,  I  have  overcome  the  world."  By  which 
he  assured  his  disciples  that,  by  walking  in  the  same  path- 
way of  self-denial  and  the  cross  which  he  trod  to  blessedness, 
they  might  also  overcome  the  world ;  as  nothing  has  ever 
enabled  any  rational  being,  in  any  age  of  the  world,  to  over- 
come the  spirit  of  the  world,  which  lieth  in  wickedness,  but 
the  cross  of  Christ. 

Some  may  query,  what  is  the  cross  of  Christ  ?  To  these  I 
answer,  it  is  the  perfect  law  of  God  written  on  the  tablet  of 
the  heart,  and  in  the  heart  of  every- rational  creature,  in  such 
indelible  characters  that  all  the  power  of  mortals  cannot  erase 
nor  obliterate.  Neither  is  there  any  power  or  means  given 
or  dispensed  to  the  children  of  men,  but  this  inward  law  and 
light  by  which  the  true  and  saving  knowledge  of  God  can  be 
obtained.  And  by  this  inward  law  and  ligh^,  all  will  be  either 
justified  or  condemned,  and  all  be  made  to  know  God  for 
themselves,  and  be  left  without  excuse,  agreeably  to  tlie  pro- 
phecy of  Jeremiah,  and  the  corroborating  testimony  of  Jesus 
in  his  last  counsel  and  command  to  his  disciples,  not  to  depart 

•  Tli'is  loiter  was  just  closed  when  he  was  attacked  with  the  paralytic  affection 
which  terminated  his  life,  on  the  27lh  of  2d  month,  1830. 


232  LETTER    TO 

i'rcm  Jerusalem  until  they  should  receive  power  from  on  high  ; 
assuring  them  that  they  should  receive  power,  when  they 
had  received  the  pouring  forth  of  the  spirit  upon  them,  which 
would  qualify  them  to  bear  witness  of  him  in  Judea,  Jeru- 
salem, Samaria  and  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  ;  which 
was  verified  in  a  marvellous  manner  on  the  day  of  Pentecost, 
when  thousands  were  converted  to  the  Christian  faith  in  one 
day.  By  which  it  is  evident,  that  nothing  but  this  inward 
light  and  law,  as  it  is  heeded  and  obeyed,  ever  did,  or  ever  can 
make  a  true  and  real  Christian  and  child  of  God.  And  until 
the  professors  of  Christianity  agree  to  lay  aside  all  their  non- 
essentials in  religion,  and  rally  to  this  unchangeable  founda- 
tion and  standard  of  truth,  wars  and  fightings,  confusion  and 
error  will  prevail,  and  the  angelic  song  cannot  be  heard  in  our 
land,  that  of  "  glory  to  God  in  the  highest  and  on  earth  peace 
and  good-will  to  men."  But  when  all  nations  are  made  will- 
ing to  make  this  inward  law  and  light,  the  rule  and  standard 
of  all  their  faith  and  works,  then  we  shall  be  brought  to  know 
and  believe  alike,  that  there  is  but  one  Lord,  one  faith,  and 
but  one  baptism;  one  God  and  Father,  that  is  above  all, 
through  all,  and  in  all ;  and  then  will  all  those  glorious  and 
consoling  prophecies,  recorded  in  the  Scriptures  of  truth  be 
fulfilled.  Isaiah  ii.  4,  "  He,"  the  Lord,  "  shall  judge  among 
the  nations,  and  rebuke  many  people  ;  and  they  shall  beat 
their  swords  into  ploughshares  and  their  spears  into  pruning 
hooks  :  nation  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against  nation  ;  neither 
shall  they  learn  war  any  more."  Isaiah  xi.  "  The  wolf  also 
shall  dwell  with  the  lamb,  and  the  leopard  shall  lie  down  with 
the  kid ;  and  the  calf,  and  the  young  lion,  and  the  fatling 
together ;  and  a  little  child  shall  lead  them.  And  the  cow 
and  the  bear  shall  feed  ;  their  young  ones  shall  lie  down 
together ;  and  the  lion  shall  eat  straw  like  the  ox.  And  the 
sucking  child  shall  play  on  the  hole  of  the  asp,  and  the  weaned 
child  shall  put  his  hand  on  the  cockatrice'  den.  They  shall 
not  hurt  nor  destroy  in  all  my  holy  mountain  :  for  the  earth," 
that  is  our  earthly  tabernacles,  "  shall  be  full  of  the  knowledge 
of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea." 


HUGH    JUDGE. 


233 


These  scripture  testimonies  give  a  true  and  correct  descrip- 
tion of  the  gospel  state,  and  no  rational  being  can  be  a  real 
Christian  and  true  disciple  of  Christ,  until  he  comes  to  know 
all  these  things  verified  in  his  own  experience,  as  every  man 
and  woman  has  more  or  less  of  all  those  different  animal  pro- 
pensities and  passions  in  their  nature  ;  and  they  predominate 
and  bear  rule,  and  are  the  source  and  fountain  from  whence  all 
wars  and  e/ery  evil  work  proceed,  and  will  continue  as  long 
as  man  remains  in  his  first  nature,  and  is  governed  by  his 
animal  spirit  and  .propensities,  which  constitute  the  natural 
man,  which  Paul  tells  us,  "  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the 
spirit  of  God,  for  they  are  foolishness  unto  him,  neither  can  he 
know  them,  because  they  are  spiritually  discerned."  This 
corroborates  the  declaration  of  Jesus  to  Nicodemus,  that  "  ex- 
cept a  man  be  born  again,  he  cam:ot  see  the  kingdom  of  God ;." 
for  "  that  which  is  born  of  the  flesh  is  flesh,  and  that  which  is 
born  of  the  spirit  is  spirit."  Here  Jssus  assures  us,  beyond  all 
doubt,  that  nothing  but  spirit  can  either  see  or  enter  into  the 
kingdom  of  God  ;  and  this  confirms  Paul's  doctrine,  that  "  as 
many  as  are  led  by  the  spirit  of  God  are  the  sons  of  God,"  and 
"  joint  heirs  with  Christ."  And  Jesus  assures  us,  by  his 
declaration  to  his  disciples,  John  xiv.  16,  17  ;  "  If  ye  love  me, 
keep  my  commandments ;  and  I  will  pray  the  Father  and  he 
shall  give  you  another  comforter,  that  he  may  abide  with  you 
for  ever,  even  the  spirit  of  truth,  whom  the  world  cannot 
receive  :"  that  is,  men  and  women  in  their  natural  state,  who 
have  not  given  up  to  be  led  by  this  .spirit  of  truth,  that  leads 
and  guides  into  all  truth ;  "  because  they  see  him  not,  neither  do 
they  know  him,  but  ye  know  him,  for  he  dwelleth  with  you, 
and  shall  be  in  you."  And  as  these  give  up  to  be  wholly  led 
and  guided  by  him,  the  new  birth  is  brought  forth  in  them 
and  they  witness  the  truth  of  another  testimony  of  Paul's, 
even  that  of  being  "  created  anew  in  Christ  Jesus  unto  g-ood 
works,"  which  God  had  foreordained  that  all  his  new-born 
children  should  walk  in  them,  and  thereby  show  forth  by  their 
fruits  and  good  works,  that  they  were  truly  the  children  of 
God,  born  of  his  spirit,  and  taught  of  him  :  agreeably  to  the 

30 


23]  LETTER  TO  HUGH  JUDGE. 

testiniony  of  the  prophet,  that  "  the  children  of  the  Lord,  are 
all  taught  of  the  Lord,  and  in  righteousness  they  are  estab- 
lished, and  great  is  the  peace  of  his  children."  And  nothing 
can  make  tliem  afraid  that  man  can  do  unto  them ;  as  saith 
the  prophet  in  his  appeal  to  Jehovah,  "  Thou  wilt  keep  him 
in  perfect  peace,  whose  mind  is  staid  on  thee,  because  he 
trusteth'  in  thee."  Therefore,  let  every,  one  that  loves  the 
truth,  for  God  is  truth,  "  trust  in  the  Lord  for  ever,  for  in  the 
liOrd  Jehovah  there  is  everlasting  strength." 

I  write  these  things  to  thee,  not  as  though  thou  didst  not 
know  them,  but  as  a  witness  to  thy  experience,  as  "  two  are 
better  than  one,  and  a  threefold  cord  is  not  quickly  broken." 

I  will  now  draw  to  a  close,  with  just  adding,  for  thy  encou- 
ragement, be  of  good  cheer  for  no  new  thing  has  happened  to 
us  ;  for  it  has  ever  been  the  lot  of  the  righteous  to  pass  through 
many  trials  and  tribulations,  in  their  passage  to  that  glorious, 
everlasting,  peaceful,  and  happy  abode,  where  all  sorrow  and 
sighing  come  to  an  end — the  value  of  which  is  above  all  price  ; 
for  when  we  have  given  all  that  we  have  and  can  give,  and 
suffered  all  that  we  can  suffer,  it  is  still  inffnitely  below  its 
real  value.  And  if  we  are  favoured  to  gain  an  inheritance  in 
that  blissful  and  peaceful  abode,  "  where  the  wicked  cease  from 
troubling,  and  the  weary  are  at  rest,"  we  must  a-scribe  it  all 
to  the  unmerited  mercy  and  loving  kindness  of  our  Heavenly 
Father,  who  remains  to  be  God  over  all,  blessed  for  ever. 

I  will  now  conclude,  and  in  the  fulness  of  brotherly  love 
to  thee  and  tliine,  in  which  my  family  unite,  subscribe  thy 
affectionate  friend. 

ELIAS  HICKS. 

Please  present  my  love  to  all  my  friends,  as  way  opens. 

[The  three  following  Letters  were  not  published  in  any  former  edition.] 


APPENDIX. 


TO  THE  QUARTERLY  MEETING  OF  MEN  AND  WOMEN  FRIENDS, 
TO  BE  HELD  AT  WESTBURY. 

Newtown,  in  Gloucester  County,  West  Jersey,  13th  of  1st  mo.,  1798. 
Dear  Friends  : 

Feeling  my  mind  for  some  days  past  drawn  towards  you  in  near  sympathy 
and  affectionate  remembrance,  thought  I  could  not  do  justice  to  myself  or 
to  you  without  saluting  you  with  a  few  lines,  when  convened  in  the  capacity 
of  a  Quarterly  Meeting,  expressive  of  the  near  unity,  fellow  feeling,  and 
regard  that  has  often  been  witnessed  to  spread  in  my  heart  towards  you 
all  since  I  left  you,  accompanied  with  fervent  desires  that  we  all  may  more 
and  more  endeavor  to  dwell  deep  in  tiie  pure  spring  of  divine  life,  and 
become  established  in  the  one  pure  faith  that  works  by  love,  that  so  the 
effectual  baptism  of  the  one  spirit  may  be  witnessed  baptizing  all  into  the 
one  body,  whereby  we  may  come  to  drink  together  in  the  one  spirit,  as  in 
this  only  is  the  true  communion  of  the  body  and  blood  of  Christ  experi- 
enced, even  that  bread  that  comes  down  from  Heaven  and  nourishes  the  soul 
up  into  eternal  life,  and  as  each  member  feels  the  quickening  of  this  pure 
life,  and  abides  therein,  ability  is  witnessed  (and  by  no  other  means)  to 
promote  in  their  varied  allotments  and  stations  the  cause  of  truth  and  right- 
eousness, without  envying  or  grudging  one  another,  and  to  transact  the 
affairs  of  the  church  to  the  honor  of  our  holy  head,  and  the  edification  and 
comfort  of  His  people.  May  those  who  stand  as  delegated  shepherds, 
whether  ministers,  elders,  or  overseers,  look  well  to  themselves  and  to  the 
flock  over  whom  they  are  appointed,  that  so  all  may  be  fed  with  wholesome 
food — milk  to  babes,  strong  meat  to  young  men,  and  strengthening  cordials 
to  those  who  are  infirm,  whether  young  or  old,  who  through  exposure  to  the 
fogs  and  damps  that  arise  from  the  stagnant  waters  of  this  world's  glory 
and  friendship,  are  in  danger  of  being  surfeited.  And  let  all  those  who  are 
called  to  lead  the  way  ever  keep  in  remembrance  that  example  is  more 
powerful  than  precept ;  that  through  faithfulness  and  an  holy  confidence  in 
that  arm  of  power  that  hath  wrought  deliverance  to  all  those  who  sincerely 
trust  in  Him,  all  may  come  to  experience  when  the  Chief  Shepherd  shall 
appear  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away. 

May  the  dearly  beloved  youth  of  every  description,  whether  married  or  in 
a  single  state,  male  or  female,  be  encouraged  to  trust  in  the  Lord,  and  more 
and  more  to  dedicate  the  flower  of  their  days  to  His  honor  and  service, 
seeing  he  has  been  graciously  pleased  in  unerring  mercy  to  visit  their  minds 
with  the  glorious  day-spring  from  on  high,  and  is  calling  them  out  of  dark- 
ness into  bis  marvelous  light,  and  fitting  and  fashioning  those  who  are  obedi- 
ently following  in  the  way  of  his  commandments  as  vessels  of  honor  in  his 
house,  and  will  make  some  of  them  as  polished  shafts  in  his  quiver  as  they 
abide  in  faithfulness  and  come  up  in  His  holy  fear.  Therefore,  dear  young 
friends,  be  guarded;  keep  up  a  strict  watch  upon  the  very  wicket  of  your 
hearts,  that  so  the  delusive  and  ensnaring  pleasures,  friendships,  and  honors 
of  the  world  rob  you  not  of  your  chastity  nor  turn  away  your  affections 
from  the  beloved  of  your  souls.  Endeavor  to  keep  in  view  at  all  times, 
especially  when  tempted  or  allured  by  the  grand  deceiver,  or  the  natural 
propensities  of  your  own  creaturely  passions — keep  in  full  view,  if  possible, 
at  those  seasons,  his  self-denying  example,  the  sorrow  and  suffering  of  his 
life,  and  the  bitter  agonies  of  his  death,  when  he  yielded  up  on  Calvary's 
Mount  his  precious  life.     I  have  often  thought,  did  we  keep  enough  before 


336  APrENDix. 

us  his  holy  example  and  the  glorious  recompense  of  reward,  it  would  stain 
in  our  view  all  the  glory  and  honor  of  this  perishing  world,  and  enable  us, 
as  one  formerly,  to  account  all  as  dross,  that  so  we  might  win  Christ  and  be 
worthy  of  a  name  in  his  house  and  place  at  his  right  hand,  where  there  are 
rivers  of  pleasure,  and  that  forevermore.  Finally,  dear  friend?,  may  the 
love  and  fellowship  of  the  gospel  of  peace  and  salvation  increase  and  pre- 
vail amongst  you  more  and  more — uniting  you  together  in  Him  and  one  to 
another,  who  is  the  head  of  all  principalities  and  powers,  thrones  and 
dominions,  and  is  God  over  all,  blessed  in  himself,  and  in  his  son,  Jesus 
Christ,  throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end.  Amen. 

From  your  affectionate  friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 
Read  in  the  Quarterly  Meeting  at  Westbury,  with  the  partition  between 
men's  and  women's  meeting  removed. 


TO  M M- 


Jericho,  8(h  of  2d  mo.,  1824. 
Dear  Friend  : 

Better  late  than  never.  The  reason  why  I  have  not  given  a  direct  answer 
to  thy  letter  of  7th  mo.  last  has  been  owing  to  the  want  of  seeing  the  right 
time,  and  feeling  a  suitable  qualiiication  for  it;  but  having  for  several  days 
past  been  led  to  think  of  my  friends  in  and  about  Hudson,  and  remembering 
thy  kind  remembrance  above  said,  I  felt  an  inducement  to  attempt  a  reply. 

The  subject  of  vocal  prayer  has  very  particularly  exercised  my  mind  for 
many  years,  and  the  abundant,  formal,  lifeless  communications  in  that  way 
by  the  varied  sects  of  professed  Christians  have  been  a  great  burden  to  my 
mind,  and  I  likewise  believe  they  are  an  abomination  in  the  sight  of  the 
Lord  :  hence  I  have  often  been  engaged  to  bear  a  full  and  public  testimony 
against  them.  This  may  account  in  some  measure  for  my  seldom  appearing 
in  that  way,  and  from  a  fear  lest  the  oflFering  might  not  be  sufficiently 
attended  with  that  life  that  would  exonerate  me  from  my  own  condemna- 
tion. For  I  consider  it  to  require  our  minds  to  be  clothed  with  deep  rever- 
ence and  godly  fear  to  approach  and  address  the  majesty  of  heaven  in 
solemn  prayer,  nevertheless  I  believe  it  may  be  sometimes  consistent  with  His 
will  and  our  required  duty  in  the  present  state  of  mankind. 

For  when  the  dark  states  of  men  and  women,  who,  by  tradition  and  an 
improper  education,  are  settled  at  ease  in  sin,  the  light  of  truth  breaking  in 
upon  their  minds  in  tlie  day  of  God's  merciful  visitation  to  their  souls,  the 
sight  of  their  deplorable  condition  strikes  the  mind  with  such  fear  and  hor- 
ror that,  like  Israel  at  Mount  Sinai,  they  draw  back  and  are  afraid  and 
unwilling  to  meet  with  Him  in  that  way  any  more,  which  places  them  in  a 
state  that  requires  a  mediator;  and,  as  Mo^cs  was  appointed  a  mediator  to 
the  whole  house  of  Israel,  so  I  believe,  under  the  gospel  dispensation  that 
has  no  written  or  external  law,  nor  can  have,  the  states  of  the  people  being 
so  various  th  it  it  is  impossible  that  any  literal  law  can  be  made  to  suit  all 
conditions,  hence  we  see  the  necessity  of  coming  to  the  new  covenant  law, 
that  is  indited  by  the  spirit  of  God  in  every  individual,  and  which  is  so 
exactly  suited  to  the  state  and 'condition  of  the  individual  in  whose  heart  it 
is  indited,  the  states  and  condition  of  the  children  of  men  being  so  varied 
that  it  is  not  likely  nor  probable  that  that  law  that  is  perfectly  suited  to 
the  state  of  one  man  would  be  ex;ictly  fitted  to  the  state  of  any  other  man 
in  the  world.  Biit  as  mankind  have  generally  turned  away  and  become 
dark  and  blind,  hence  when,  by  the  renewed  visitations  of  divine  love  and 
light,  they  are  brought  to  see  their  wretched  condition,  as  above  said,  tbey 


APPENDIX.  237 

are  afraid  to  come  into  His  presence,  yet  feel  some  faint  desire  after  deliv- 
erance. Now,  on  behalf  of  tliese,  the  Lord,  I  believe,  in  the  present  day,  as 
formerly,  sees  meet  in  his  wisdom  and  goodness  to  inspire  the  hearts  of  his 
ministers  (as  mediators  to  those  low  and  disconsolate  states)  with  the 
spirit  of  prayer  and  supplication.  Not  to  inform  Him  of  their  wants,  which 
he  altogether  knows,  but  as  a  means  to  prepare  the  minds  of  such  discon- 
solate ones  with  faith  and  courage,  suitably  to  look  up  to  Him  as  their  only 
helper,  which  places  them  in  a  condition  to  receive  his  blessing  with  grati- 
tude and  thanksgiving.  And  this,  I  trust,  will  be  the  case  while  sin  abounds 
in  the  world  ;  but  when  men  and  women  become  real  Christians,  wholly  led 
and  guided  by  the  spirit  of  truth  or  law  written  in  the  heart,  after  the 
example  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  then  all  external  mediation  ceases,  for  all 
then  are  immediately  taught  of  God,  as  saith  the  Prophet. 

"  For  the  children  of  the  Lord  are  all  taught  of  the  Lord,  and  in  righteous- 
ness are  they  established,  and  great  is  the  peace  of  these  children." 

These  have  no  longer  any  need  to  say  each  to  the  other,  know  the  Lord, 
for  all  shall  know  him,  from  the  least  to  the  greatest,  and  these,  as  to  them- 
selves, have  no  need  of  reading  or  studying,  however  good  or  useful  they  may 
have  been,  while  men  and  women  are  groveling  along  in  the  way  of  uncer- 
tainty, amidst  the  mists  and  fogs  of  tradition  and  superstition,  seeing,  by 
faithfulness  to  the  dictates  of  this  unwritten  law,  they  are  brought  through 
to  the  clear  light  of  the  day,  and  have  no  longer  need  (as  respects  their 
spiritual  condition)  of  the  light  of  the  sun  or  moon  outwardly,  for  God  has 
become  their  everlasting  light,  and  the  days  of  their  mourning  are  ended. 
And  these  experience  that  excellent  state  described  by  the  Psalmist,  viz : 
"  Blessed  is  the  man  that  walketh  not  in  the  counsel  of  the  ungodly,  nor 
standeth  in  the  way  of  sinners,  nor  sitteth  in  the  seat  of  the  scornful,  but 
his  delight  is  in  the  law  of  the  Lord,  and  in  his  law  doth  he  meditate  both 
day  and  night." 

And  I  have  long  believed  that  if  our  ministers  who  travel  up  and  down  to 
improve  the  people  in  their  religious  concerns,  instead  of  spending  so  much 
of  their  time  in  recommending  the  people  so  much  to  the  letter  and  the 
reading  of  books,  however  good  they  may  be  as  such,  were  more  concerned 
to  recommend  to  them  silent  retirement  and  meditation  on  the  new  cove- 
nant law  written  in  the  heart,  which  only  can  set  free  from  the  law  of  sin 
and  death,  their  labors  would  be  more  productive,  as  relates  to  the  people,  of 
real  good,  and  terminate  in  much  more  peace  and  comfort  to  themselves. 
And  I  really  fear  unless  this  is  the  case  that  we,  as  a  people,  will  ere  long 
dwindle  down  into  the  same  state  of  dead  formality  as  now  generally  reigns 
in  Christendom  among  other  professors  of  the  Christian  name. 

In  much  love  to  thyself,  I  subscribe  thy  affectionate  friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


TO  SAMUEL  EVANS. 

Jericho,  \st  mo.,  2ith,  1830. 
Respected  Touns  Friend  : 

The  manner  of  my  address  arises  from  the  knowledge  I  had  of  thy  worthy 
father,  and  the  respect  due  to  his  character,  and  allho'  thou  art  to  ^ne  an 
entire  stranger,  yet  I  willingly  cherish  a  hope  that  thou,  by  due  attention  to 
the  real  Quakers'  light  and  law,  which  is  inward  and  spiritual — thou  may 
arise  to  the  same  respectability.  But  from  my  general  observation  on  men 
and  things,  from  youth  to  old  age,  I  have  never  become  possest  of  sufBcient 
evidence  to  enforce  a  belief  that  any  individual  of  our  society,  if  he  ever 
was  s  real  Quaker,  or  friend,  has  ever  added  any  respectability  to  his  char- 


238  APPENDIX. 

acter  as  such,  by  the  study  and  practice  of  the  law  of  our  country,  or  any 
other,  that  needs  the  coercion  of  war,  or  the  sword,  for  its  support. 

And  I  consider  the  genuine  Quakers'  inward  law  and  light,  aud  their  out- 
ward law  and  discipline  that  emanates  from  it,  entirely  supercedes  all  other 
outward  law,  as  it  would  never  permit  any  one  of  its  faithful  subjects  to 
break  any  just  law  of  any  nation  on  earth,  as  the  universal  law  of  the  real 
Christian  and  the  real  Quaker,  both  of  which  are  one,  consists  in  passive 
obedience  and  non-resistance  to  all  the  laws  of  man,  whether  just  or  unjust, 
and  arbitrary,  and  those  whose  lives  are  regulated  by  this  universal  law 
are  not  afraid  to  bear  their  testimony  against  every  unjust  law  of  man,  and 
against  all  its  arbitrary  requisitions  :  neither  will  they  actively  comply  there- 
with, although  the  penalty  for  refusing  should  cost  them  their  natural 
lives,  and  which  penalty  has  actually  been  inflicted  on  many  Christians  and 
on  some  of  our  friends,  in  former  years,  for  such  refusal. 

And,  therefore,  under  these  considerations,  had  I  been  favored  with  a 
number  of  sons,  I  should  not  dare  to  have  encouraged  or  given  my  assent  to 
any  one  of  them,  to  fill  the  place  of  a  lawyer.  Under  the  full  conviction 
that  the  calling  in  the  present  mode  of  their  proceedure,  in  our  courts  of 
justice,  is  very  injurious  to  the  peace,  prosperity,  and  happiness  of  every 
country  and  government  in  which  they  abound,  as  they  encourage  litigation, 
make  suits  at  law  more  frequent,  and  prevent  the  more  rational  and  less 
expensive  and  more  just  way  of  settling  disputes  among  neighbors,  by  ref- 
erence to  just  and  impai-tial  men,  by  way  of  arbitration. 

For  every  honest  man  who  desires  nothing  but  the  right  should  take  place 
is  very  sensible,  that  when  the  parties  are  both  honestly  disposed,  and  agree 
to  refer  the  subject  of  dispute  to  two  or  three,  or  more,  as  the  case  may 
require,  of  their  judicious  neighbors,  whose  honesty  and  integrity  has  been 
long  established,  that  it  is  ten  fold  more  likely  that  justice  will  be  done 
between  them,  than  when  tried  by  a  jury  promiscuously  picked  up  by  a 
sheriff,  many  of  whom  may  be  very  ignorant  both  of  law  and  justice,  and 
who  may  be  easily  influenced  by  the  pleading  of  a  cuuniug  lawyer,  who  is 
ever  ambitious  to  out-do  his  opponent,  whether  right  or  wrong,  to  decide 
directly  opposite  to  truth  and  justice,  and  which  I  believe  is  often  the  case 
when  disputes  are  settled  by  a  jury  and  lawyers  in  our  courts  of  lavr. 

Therefore,  my  advice  to  thee  as  a  real  friend,  is  to  have  as  little  to  do  with 
the  law  in  any  shape  whatever  as  thou  canst  possibly  avoid,  as  I  do  not  think 
it  consistent  for  any  member  of  our  society  to  procure  a  livelihood  for  him- 
self and  family  by  practising  the  law. 

And  as  there  are  a  great  variety  of  honest  callings,  in  each  of  which  every 
honest,  industrious  man  can  procure  a  sufficiency  of  this  world's  goods  for 
his  own  and  family's  comfort  and  which  will  much  less  interfere  with  our 
religious  duty,  and  conduce  more  to  the  general  good  of  society,  I  would 
recommend  some  mechanical  branch,  which  will  require  but  a  small  begin- 
ning, and  which  manner  of  life  is  generally  conducive  to  health,  and  freer 
from  care,  and  less  burdensome  to  the  mind,  than  some  higher  branches  of 
business.  Before  I  close,  I  will  just  add,  as  a  token  of  my  sincere  regard 
towards  thee,  accompanied  with  a  fervent  desire  for  thy  advancement  in  the 
enjoyment  of  the  best  of  blessings,  a  short  portion  of  scripture  record,  that 
I  consider  of  so  great  value  as  to  deserve  a  place  in  every  mind,  in  charac- 
ters that  cannot  be  obliterated  by  time;  they  are  as  follows,  viz:  "  Humility 
is  before  honor,  and  a  haughty  spirit  before  a  fall ;"  this  is  the  motto  of  ray 
mind.  Hear  the  conclusion  of  the  whole  matter,  "Fear  God  and  keep  his 
commandments,  for  this  is  the  whole  duty  of  man." 

I  will  now  conclude,  and  with  due  respect  subscribe  thy  alTectionate 
friend, 

ELIAS  HICKS. 


CONTENTS. 


PACE. 

Advertisement, 3 

Observations  on  Slavery, 5 

Letter  to  Rufus  Clark, 20 

"  William  Poole, 23 

"       "  J N , 25 

"       "  William  Poole, 31 

"       "         «'         "        40 

"       "  Phebe  Willis, 43 

"       "  William  Poole, 50 

"       "  William  B.  Irish, 51 

"       "  William  Poole, • 58 

"       "        "        "       60 

"       "         "         "        01 

"       "  Phebe  Willis G3 

"       «<  William  Poole, 08 

"       "         "         "        79 

An  Essay  on  the  Birth  and  Offices  of  Christ, 81 

Letter  to  William  Poole, 80 

"       "         "         "         91 

"       "  William  Wharton, CO 

"       "         "             "          97 

"       "  William  Poole, 98 

"       "  Edward  Hicks, 101 

"       "  William  Poole, 105 

"   "    "    « lOG 

"   "    "    "   109 

"   "    "    "   110 

"   "«   "    "   Ill 

"   "    "    "    112 

"       "  John  Merritt, 113 

'*       "  William  Poole, 116 

An  Address  to  Youth, 119 

Letter  to  J.  Wilson  Moore,.. 120 

"       "  Nathan  Shoemaker, 124 

"       "  William  Poole, 129 

"       "  J.  Wilson  Moore, 131 

"       "  Abraham  Lower, 134 


240  CONTENTS. 

PAGE. 

Letter  to  William  Poole, 136 

«'  "  Simnel  Comfort, 140 

"  «'  William  Poole, 142 

"  "  Abraham   Lower, 146 

"  "William  Poole, l4y 

«'  "Samuel  Comfort, , 155 

"  "  William   Poole, 157 

"  "         "         "        159 

"  "          "         "         161 

"  "  Samuel  R.  Fisher, 162 

"  William  Poole 164 

"  "  Thomas  McClintock, 165 

"  "  Moses  Brown, 171 

"  "  Samuel  Comfort, 176 

"  "  William  Poole, 177 

"  "  Abraham  Lower, 179 

"  "  William  Poole, 181 

"  "  Samuel  Comfort, v 1^^ 

"  "  William  Poole, 187 

"  "         "         "        190 

"  "         "         "        192 

"  "  Thomas  McClintock, 194 

"  "  William  Poole, 196 

"  "  Samuel  Comfort, 198 

"  "  Isaac  T.  Hopper, 201 

"  "  Moses  Pennock, 202 

"  "  William  Poole, '. 207 

"  "  William  Wharton, 208 

"  "  William  Poole 210 

"  "  John  C.  Sanders, 210 

"  "  Charles  Stokes, '...  215 

"  "  William  Poole, 219 

"  "  Benjamin  Ferris, 221 

"  "  Elias  Wilbur, 222 

"  "  Thomas  Leggett,  Jr., 226 

"  "  Hugh  Judge, 231 


APPENDIX. 

Letter  to  The  Quarterly  Meeting  of  Men  and  Women  Friends,  held  at 

Westbury 235 

«       ..  M M , J...  236 

"       "  Samuel  Evans, 237 


DATE   DUE 


GftVLORD 


COLUMBIA  UNIVERSITY  LIBRARIES 


0038037157 


956.9e 


H5^9^ 


